'cost-driven' originates from the combination of 'cost' and 'driven', where 'cost' refers to the amount of money required for something, and 'driven' implies being motivated or influenced by a particular factor.

'cost' comes from the Old French word 'coste', and 'driven' is the past participle of 'drive', which comes from the Old English 'drīfan'.

Initially, 'cost' referred to the price of goods, and 'driven' meant being propelled. Together, 'cost-driven' evolved to mean being influenced by financial considerations.