ecosystem-oriented
|e-co-sys-tem-o-ri-ent-ed|
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/ˌiːkoʊˈsɪstəm ˈɔriəntɪd/
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/ˌiːkəʊˈsɪstəm ˈɔːrɪəntɪd/
focused on the whole ecological/system relationships
Etymology
'ecosystem-oriented' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'ecosystem' and the adjectival suffix-form 'oriented', where 'ecosystem' meant 'a biological community and its environment as a system' and 'oriented' meant 'having a specified direction or focus'.
'ecosystem' was coined in English in the 20th century (often attributed to A. G. Tansley, 1935) from Greek 'oikos' plus 'systema'; 'orient' comes from Latin 'orient-' from 'oriri' meaning 'to rise' and entered English via Old French and Latin forms, later producing the suffix '-oriented' meaning 'having an orientation toward'. The compound 'ecosystem-oriented' formed by combining the modern noun with the adjectival '-oriented' suffix.
Initially, 'orient' related to the east or to rising; over time 'orient' and the derived '-oriented' shifted to mean 'to set a direction toward' or 'to be focused on', and 'ecosystem-oriented' now means 'directed toward or prioritizing ecosystems or systemic relationships'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a focus on, designed for, or guided by the structure, functions, and health of an ecological system as a whole.
The new land-use policy is ecosystem-oriented, prioritizing habitat connectivity and biodiversity in planning decisions.
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Adjective 2
in business, design, or policy contexts: prioritizing the relationships and interdependencies among stakeholders, services, or products within a shared environment rather than isolated components.
The company adopted an ecosystem-oriented strategy, encouraging partner integrations and platform interoperability.
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Last updated: 2026/01/16 07:41