'poverty-promoting' is an English compound formed from 'poverty' + 'promoting'. 'poverty' ultimately originates from Latin 'paupertas' (via Old French 'povreté'), where 'pauper' meant 'poor'. 'promote' originates from Latin 'promovere', in which the prefix 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'movere' meant 'to move'.

'poverty' developed from Latin 'paupertas' to Old French 'povreté' and Middle English 'povrety', becoming modern English 'poverty'. 'promovere' passed into Old French as 'promouvoir' and Middle English as forms like 'promoten', yielding modern English 'promote' and the present participle 'promoting'. The compound 'poverty-promoting' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

Originally 'poverty' referred to the state of being poor and 'promote' meant 'to move forward or advance'; when combined in modern English the compound specifically denotes something that causes or increases poverty.