'foreign-sponsored' is a compound formed in modern English from the adjective 'foreign' and the past-participle adjective 'sponsored'. 'foreign' ultimately comes (via Old French) from Latin 'foris' meaning 'outside'; 'sponsored' derives from 'sponsor', from Latin 'spondere'/'spons-' meaning 'to promise' or 'to pledge'.

'foreign' evolved from Old English/Middle English forms influenced by Old French 'forain' (meaning 'outside, external'), and 'sponsor' entered English via Medieval/Modern Latin and Old French usage as a noun for a guarantor and later extended to mean one who provides financial support; combining them produced the modern compound 'foreign-sponsored'.

Originally 'foreign' indicated 'outside' and 'sponsor' originally meant a 'guarantor' or one who pledges; over time 'sponsor' shifted to the sense of providing financial support, so the compound's current meaning is 'supported or financed by an outside/foreign source'.