'organized-crime-like' originates as a modern English compound of 'organized', 'crime', and the suffix '-like', where 'organized' is formed from 'organize' + '-ed', 'crime' originates from Latin 'crimen', and the suffix '-like' traces to Old English '-līc' meaning 'having the form of'.

'organized' developed from the verb 'organize' (from French/Latin roots relating to 'organ' or 'instrument'), 'crime' came into English from Latin 'crimen' via Old French, and the adjectival suffix '-like' descends from Old English '-līc'; these parts combined in modern English to form the compound phrase 'organized-crime-like'.

Initially the components meant 'to arrange or form into a system' (organized), 'an offense or charge' (crime), and 'having the form of' (-like); combined in recent usage they now mean 'resembling organized crime' and are used descriptively of actions, structures, or behaviors.