'areopagist' originates from Greek (via Latin), specifically from 'Areopagus' combined with the English suffix '-ist', where 'Areopagus' comes from Greek 'Areios pagos' meaning 'Ares' hill' and '-ist' indicates someone associated with or belonging to.

'areopagist' derives from Greek 'Areiopagos' (Ἀρειοπαγίτης) which entered Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'Areopagites'/'Areopagita' and later passed into English as 'Areopagus' with the agent-forming suffix producing 'areopagist'.

Initially it meant 'a member of the Areopagus (the hill-council dedicated to Ares)', and over time it has retained that core sense, sometimes being used more broadly to mean 'a member of a high or conservative council or court'.