'antiscalant' originates from modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and 'scalant', which derives from 'scale' plus the agent-forming suffix '-ant' (from Latin/French) meaning 'one that acts on or against'.

'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against'; 'scale' (in the sense of a deposit or flake) traces through Old French 'escaille'/'escale' and Late Latin influences into Middle English 'scale'; the compound 'antiscalant' is a modern formation combining 'anti-' + 'scalant' to denote an agent against scale.

Initially a literal compound meaning 'an agent against scale,' the term has retained that technical sense and is used specifically for chemicals added to water systems to prevent mineral deposits.