'antistreptococcin' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' and the element 'streptococcin', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'streptococcin' referred to a substance related to 'Streptococcus' bacteria.

'antistreptococcin' was coined in the 20th century by combining 'anti-' with a formation based on 'Streptococcus' (itself from Greek 'streptos' meaning 'twisted' and 'kokkos' meaning 'berry'); this produced 'streptococcin' as a term for a substance associated with streptococci, and then 'antistreptococcin' to denote an agent acting against those bacteria.

Initially, the term often referred specifically to an antiserum or antibody used against streptococci, but over time it broadened to include any agent (including antibiotics or bacteriocins) active against Streptococcus species.