'made' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'macian', where 'macian' meant 'to make'. 'Western' originates from Old English 'west' plus the suffix '-ern', meaning 'of the west'. 'market' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'mercatus', via Old French 'marché', where 'mercatus' meant 'trade' or 'marketplace'.

'made-for-Western-markets' is a modern English compound formed by combining 'made', 'for', 'Western', and 'markets'. The individual elements evolved through Old and Middle English and from Latin/French (for 'market'); the full compound became common in usage in the late 20th century with globalization and international trade.

Initially the phrase simply meant 'produced for sale in Western markets'; over time it often took on the additional nuance that the product had been altered or 'Westernized' to suit Western tastes, sometimes implying a loss of original authenticity.