'antisyndicalism' is formed in English from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti- meaning 'against') and 'syndicalism', which entered English via French 'syndicalisme' (relating to trade unions).

'syndicalism' comes from French 'syndicalisme', built on 'syndicat' (trade union) and 'syndic' (representative). Those French terms trace back to Medieval/Latin forms (e.g. Old French/Latin 'syndicus') ultimately from Greek 'sundikos' (συνδικος), and English 'syndicalism' was later combined with the productive English prefix 'anti-' to form 'antisyndicalism'.

The element 'anti-' originally simply meant 'against'; combined with 'syndicalism' it came to denote either a doctrinal opposition to syndicalist theory or concrete policies/actions opposing syndicalist activity. Over time the term has been used both as a descriptive label and to name political measures opposing syndicalism.