'adult-oriented' is formed in modern English from the adjective 'adult' and the past-participle adjective-forming use of 'orient' ('oriented'), where 'adult' comes from Latin 'adultus' meaning 'grown up' and 'orient' (via Latin 'orientare') carries the sense 'to direct toward' or 'to align'.

'adult' originates from Latin 'adultus' (meaning 'grown up') and entered English via Old French/Latin influence; 'orient' comes from Latin 'oriens'/'orientare' (meaning 'rising' or 'to turn toward the east') and developed the broader sense 'to direct toward' in later English, producing 'oriented' as an adjective. The compound 'adult-oriented' appeared in modern English to describe things directed at an adult audience.

Initially, 'orient' had a literal sense related to turning toward the east and 'adult' simply meant 'grown up'; over time, 'oriented' acquired the figurative sense 'directed toward' a target (e.g., audience), and the compound 'adult-oriented' came to mean 'aimed at adults' (including the modern sense of mature or explicit content).