'antisiphonal' originates from Late Latin/Greek via the adjective 'antiphonal', ultimately from Greek 'antiphōnía'/'antiphōnos' where 'anti-' meant 'against, opposite' and 'phōnē' meant 'voice, sound'.

'antisiphonal' developed as a modern adjectival variant related to 'antiphonal'. 'Antiphōnía' in Greek passed into Late Latin as 'antiphona', through Old French/Medieval Latin forms and Middle English 'antiphon', then into the modern English 'antiphonal' and subsequently into the variant 'antisiphonal'.

Initially the root referred to a 'responsive (voice) song' in liturgical practice; over time it came to describe the manner or arrangement (i.e., alternating or responsive performance) rather than only the sung piece itself.