'antistatism' originates from a modern English formation combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and the noun 'statism' (from 'state' + '-ism'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'statism' referred to the doctrine of strong state authority.

'statism' comes from English 'state' (from Old French 'estat', from Latin 'status' meaning 'condition, position'), with the suffix '-ism' forming a noun; 'antistatism' emerged later by adding the productive prefix 'anti-' to 'statism' to express opposition.

Initially formed simply to denote opposition to 'statism' (the belief in strong state power), the term has remained relatively consistent in meaning, referring broadly to opposition to state control or intervention.