'imagination-led' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the noun 'imagination' and the past participle 'led' (from the verb 'lead'). 'imagination' itself ultimately comes from Latin 'imaginatio' via Old French and Middle English; 'led' is the past form of 'lead'.

'imagination' comes from Latin 'imaginatio' which passed into Old French and Middle English as 'imaginacioun' before becoming Modern English 'imagination'. 'led' is the past participle of Old English 'lædan' (to lead), which evolved into Middle English forms and the modern verb 'lead' with past 'led'. The compound 'imagination-led' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially, 'imagination' meant 'the faculty or action of forming mental images or concepts', and 'led' meant 'caused to go or be guided'; over time the compound came to mean 'guided by imagination'—i.e., directed or motivated primarily by imaginative thinking rather than by practical concerns.