'archinfamy' originates from a combination of Greek and Latin elements: Greek 'arkhos' (chief, principal) and Latin 'infamia' (bad reputation, disgrace), where 'arkhos' meant 'chief' and 'infamia' meant 'disgraceful reputation'.

'archinfamy' developed as an English compound from the prefix 'arch-' (borrowed from Greek via Latin and Old French use) combined with the existing English noun 'infamy' (from Latin 'infamia'); the compound form 'arch-infamy' was later written as the single word 'archinfamy' in modern English.

Initially, the elements conveyed 'chief disgrace' in a literal compositional sense, but over time the compound has come to mean 'the highest degree of notoriety or shame' in modern usage.