'anti-racism' originates from the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' and the modern English noun 'racism', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'racism' is formed from 'race' + the suffix '-ism'.

'race' entered English from French 'race' (ultimately from Italian 'razza'); '-ism' is a suffix from Greek/Latin via French meaning a system or practice. 'Racism' emerged in English in the early 20th century, and the compound 'anti-racism' developed in the mid-20th century as discourse and activism opposing racial prejudice grew.

Initially, the components referred simply to 'against' (anti-) and to 'race' or the doctrine of race-based division, but over time 'anti-racism' has come to denote both the belief opposing racism and the active policies and practices designed to counter racial inequality.