'iconophobic' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'eikon' meaning 'image' and 'phobos' meaning 'fear', combined with the English adjectival suffix '-ic'.

'iconophobic' developed from Greek roots 'eikon' + 'phobos' into the Late Latin/Neo-Latin formations (e.g. 'iconophobia'), and was later adapted into English as the adjective 'iconophobic' by adding '-ic' and the English adjectival/adverbial morphology.

Initially, the root formation referred specifically to 'fear of images'; over time the adjective has been used both for literal fear and for broader hostility or opposition to images (especially religious images).