'archhypocrite' is a compound formed in English from the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhi-' or 'arkhos', meaning 'chief' or 'principal') and the noun 'hypocrite' (from Greek 'hypokritēs', meaning 'an actor' or 'one who plays a part').

'hypocrite' comes from Greek 'hypokritēs' (ὑποκριτής) meaning 'actor, stage-player', passed into Latin and Old French before entering Middle English as 'ypocrite'/'hipocrite' and then modern English 'hypocrite'. The prefix 'arch-' derives from Greek 'arkhi-' (ἀρχι-) via Latin/Old French usage as a formative prefix meaning 'principal' or 'chief', and English compounds like 'arch-enemy' established the pattern for combining with nouns (hence 'arch-hypocrite').

Originally 'hypocrite' meant 'an actor' or 'one who pretends' and evolved to mean 'a deceitful or insincere person'; 'arch-' originally meant 'chief' or 'principal' and now serves to intensify, so the compound came to mean 'the chief/extreme hypocrite'.