'antisepticism' originates from Modern English, formed from 'antiseptic' + the suffix '-ism', where 'antiseptic' ultimately comes from Greek elements 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'septikos' meaning 'putrefying', and '-ism' (from Greek '-ismos' / Latin '-ismus') meant 'practice, doctrine'.

'antisepticism' developed by combining the English adjective 'antiseptic' (from French/Latin forms deriving from Greek) with the noun-forming suffix '-ism', producing a term meaning the doctrine or practice associated with antiseptics; thus Greek 'anti-' + 'septikos' → French/Latin forms → English 'antiseptic' → 'antisepticism'.

Initially related to opposition to putrefaction or substances that prevent decay, over time it evolved to mean specifically the doctrine or practice of using antiseptics to prevent infection.