'meaning-focused' originates from the combination of 'meaning' and 'focused', where 'meaning' refers to the significance or interpretation of something, and 'focused' implies concentrated attention.

'meaning' and 'focused' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, with 'meaning' deriving from Old English 'mǣnan' and 'focused' from the Latin 'focus'.

Initially, 'meaning' referred to the act of signifying, while 'focused' meant a central point of attention. Together, they evolved to describe a concentrated effort on understanding significance.