exit-driven
|ex-it-driv-en|
/ˈɛksɪt-ˈdrɪvən/
motivated by an exit (sale/IPO)
Etymology
'exit-driven' originates from modern English, a compound combining the noun 'exit' and the past-participle adjective 'driven' (from the verb 'drive').
'exit' comes from Latin 'exire' (ex- 'out' + ire 'to go'), which entered English via Old French/Medieval Latin forms; 'drive' comes from Old English 'drīfan' meaning 'to force or urge', whose past participle evolved into 'driven'. The compound 'exit-driven' is a recent English formation joining these elements to describe motivation by an exit.
Individually, 'exit' originally meant 'to go out' and 'driven' meant 'propelled or compelled'; combined in recent usage the phrase evolved to mean 'motivated by the prospect of a profitable exit' or more generally 'influenced chiefly by exit options'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
motivated primarily by the prospect of an exit (a profitable sale, acquisition, or initial public offering), especially used of startups, investors, or business strategies.
Many early-stage investors prefer exit-driven startups that can be sold quickly for a return.
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Adjective 2
determined or influenced chiefly by the availability or attractiveness of exit options (e.g., employees leaving, customers switching), used in organizational, political, or social contexts.
The company's retention policy seemed exit-driven: it focused on making departures easy rather than addressing root causes.
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Last updated: 2025/10/21 06:01