'antistreptococcic' originates from Greek and New Latin elements: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'antí') meaning 'against', plus 'streptococcus' (from New Latin 'Streptococcus'), and the adjectival suffix '-ic' (from Greek '-ikos' / Latin '-icus').

'antistreptococcic' was formed in modern medical English by combining 'anti-' + 'streptococcus' with the suffix '-ic'; 'streptococcus' itself was coined in New Latin in the 19th century from Greek 'streptos' ('twisted') + 'kokkos' ('berry, seed').

Initially built to mean 'against streptococcus (bacteria)', this has remained its medical sense describing agents or properties that act against streptococci.