'adult-centered' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the noun 'adult' and the adjective 'centered' (the latter derived from 'center' + -ed). 'adult' comes from Latin 'adultus' meaning 'grown up.' 'center' comes from Latin 'centrum' via Old French 'centre' and Middle English 'centre.'

'adult' passed from Latin 'adultus' into Old French 'adulte' and then into Middle English as 'adult.' 'center' came from Latin 'centrum' into Old French 'centre' and Middle English 'centre'; the adjective 'centered' developed by adding the past-participial suffix '-ed' to indicate 'having a center' or 'placed at the center.' The compound 'adult-centered' is a modern English formation combining these elements to indicate focus on adults.

Initially elements like 'centered' conveyed the idea of being 'placed at or relating to a center.' Over time the compound came to mean 'oriented toward adults' or 'having adults as the central concern,' which is the current usage.