'antireform' originates from English, formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against') and the word 'reform' (from Old French/Latin).

'antireform' developed from the hyphenated English phrase 'anti-reform' and has also been used as 'anti reform' in earlier modern texts; the element 'reform' itself came into English via Old French 'reformer' from Latin 'reformare'.

Initially, the components meant 'against' + 'to form again' (via 'reform'); the combined term has retained the core meaning of 'being against reforms' in modern usage.