'antiprotozoic' originates from Greek elements via Modern Latin/Scientific formation: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) meaning 'against' and 'protozoon' (Greek 'protos' = 'first' + 'zoon' = 'animal'), with the adjectival suffix '-ic'.

'antiprotozoic' was formed in modern scientific English by combining 'anti-' + 'protozoic' (itself from Modern Latin/Greek 'protozoon'), producing a term used in medical and biological contexts to describe substances that act against protozoa.

Initially coined to mean 'against protozoa' in scientific texts, the meaning has remained essentially stable as 'destructive to or inhibiting protozoan organisms'.