'commercially-driven' originates from the combination of 'commercially' and 'driven', where 'commercially' is derived from 'commerce', meaning 'trade or business', and 'driven' from 'drive', meaning 'to propel or motivate'.

'commercially-driven' evolved from the concept of 'commerce' in the 15th century, combined with 'driven' from Old English 'drifan', eventually forming the modern term.

Initially, it meant 'motivated by trade or business', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.