'antispreader' originates from English, specifically formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and 'spreader' (from English 'spread' + agent suffix '-er'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'spreader' meant 'one/thing that spreads'.

'antispreader' is a modern English compound formed by prefixing 'anti-' to 'spreader'. The verb 'spread' comes from Old English 'sprǣdan'/'spreadan' (to stretch out, extend) which passed into Middle English as 'sprede'/'spreden' and later became 'spread' in modern English; 'spreader' is the agentive form derived from 'spread.'

Initially the components literally meant 'against' + 'one/thing that spreads'; over time the compound has been used to mean 'something/one that prevents or reduces spreading,' especially in public-health or information contexts.