'archcritic' originates from English, combining the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhē'/'arkhos') meaning 'chief' or 'principal' and the word 'critic' (from Greek 'kritikos' via Latin and French) meaning 'able to judge'.

'arch-' developed from Greek 'arkhē'/'arkhos' (used in compounds to mean 'chief' or 'principal') and entered English compounds (e.g. 'archbishop', 'archenemy'); 'critic' entered English from Middle French and Latin 'criticus', ultimately from Greek 'kritikos'. The two elements were combined in modern English to form 'archcritic'.

Initially components conveyed the sense of a 'chief judge' or leading evaluator; in modern use 'archcritic' has come to mean the most prominent or most severe critic of something.