'antiscientific' originates from Modern English, composed of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'ἀντί') meaning 'against' and 'scientific' ultimately from Latin 'scientia' meaning 'knowledge'.

'scientific' changed from Middle English 'science' (from Old French 'science'), which came from Latin 'scientia'; later, English formed 'antiscientific' by prefixing 'anti-' to 'scientific'.

Initially formed to mean 'against science' or 'opposed to scientific principles'; over time it has retained this core sense of opposing or rejecting scientific methods and evidence.