'antivenereal' originates from Greek and Latin elements: from Greek 'anti' (specifically the element 'anti', meaning 'against') combined with Latin 'venereus' (from 'Venus'), where 'venereus' meant 'of Venus' and came to be associated with sexual love and diseases.

'antivenereal' developed in modern English by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the adjective 'venereal' (itself from Latin 'venereus' via Middle English/Old French usage). The compound appeared in medical usage (notably 18th–19th century) as 'anti-venereal' and later as the single word 'antivenereal'.

Initially it meant 'against or preventive of diseases associated with Venus (i.e., venereal disease)'; over time the meaning has remained essentially the same, denoting agents or actions that prevent or treat venereal/sexually transmitted diseases.