'imagination-driven' is a modern English compound formed from 'imagination' and 'driven'. 'imagination' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'imaginatio', where the root 'imagin-' referred to 'image' or 'likeness'. 'driven' is the past participle of 'drive', which comes from Old English 'drīfan' meaning 'to force/propel'.

'imagination' passed from Latin 'imaginatio' through Old French/Middle English forms (e.g. Middle English 'imagynacioun') to modern English 'imagination'; 'drive' evolved from Old English 'drīfan' to Middle English 'driven' and the two elements were later combined into the adjective compound 'imagination-driven' in modern usage.

Individually, 'imagination' originally referred to 'an image or representation' and 'drive' meant 'to force or propel'; together in the compound the emphasis shifted to the idea of being 'propelled or guided by imagination', the sense used today.