'antischool' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with the noun 'school' (from Greek 'scholē' via Latin and Old English).

'anti-' entered English from Greek via Latin, used in compounds since the 17th century; 'school' comes from Greek 'scholē' > Latin 'schola' > Old English 'scolu'/'scol' and developed into modern English 'school'; the compound 'anti-' + 'school' is a modern English formation (20th century onward) used to label opposition to schooling.

The components originally meant 'against' (anti-) and 'leisure, discussion, place of learning' (scholē); combined in modern usage they convey opposition to the institution or practice of schooling rather than the older sense of 'place of discussion.'