'debunker' originates from English, specifically the verb 'debunk,' where 'de-' meant 'remove' and 'bunk' meant 'nonsense' (from 'bunkum').

'debunk' was coined in the early 20th century (c.1920s) from 'bunk' (short for 'bunkum'), which itself derives from 'Buncombe' (a county name); the agentive suffix '-er' was added to form 'debunker.'

Initially it meant 'to expose or remove nonsense,' and over time it has retained the core meaning of exposing falsehoods or pretension.