'archrebel' originates from Greek and Latin elements, specifically the Greek prefix 'arkhos' (via Latin/medieval prefix 'archi-' or 'arch-') where 'arkhos' meant 'chief', combined with Latin 'rebellis' (via Old French 'rebelle') where 'rebellis' meant 'waging war again' or 'one who resists'.

'archrebel' developed as a compound of the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhos' through Latin and Old/Middle English use of 'archi-/arch-') and the noun 'rebel' (from Latin 'rebellis' > Old French 'rebelle' > Middle English 'rebel'), forming the modern English compound 'archrebel'.

Initially, the components separately conveyed 'chief' and 'one who rebels'; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'the foremost or most extreme rebel' and is used for emphasis rather than as a distinct technical term.