'antisophistic' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek ἀντί, meaning 'against') combined with 'sophistic' (from Greek 'sophistikós', relating to skill in wisdom or argument).

'sophistic' traces back to Greek 'sophistikós' and 'sophos' ('wise'), passed into Late Latin as 'sophisticus' and into Middle English as 'sophistic'; the modern compound 'antisophistic' is formed in English by adding the productive prefix 'anti-' to that adjective.

Initially the elements referred to wisdom or skillful argument ('sophos' = wise), but 'sophistic' came to be associated with 'sophistry'—specious or deceptive argument; 'antisophistic' therefore came to mean 'against sophistry' and has retained that critical sense.