'antityrosinase' is a modern scientific formation combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-', meaning 'against') with 'tyrosinase' (the enzyme name derived from 'tyrosine' + the enzyme suffix '-ase').

'antityrosinase' was formed in modern scientific/technical English by joining the classical/Neo-Latin/Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with the enzyme name 'tyrosinase' (itself from 'tyrosine,' named from Greek 'tyros' meaning 'cheese,' plus '-ase' for enzymes). This coinage is a recent construction used in biochemical and cosmetic literature.

The term was coined to mean 'against tyrosinase' (i.e., inhibiting the enzyme), and it has retained that specific inhibitory sense in scientific usage.