'purpose-specific' originates from modern English as a compound of 'purpose' and 'specific', where 'purpose' ultimately comes from Latin 'propositum' (through Old French and Middle English) meaning 'a thing put forward, intention', and 'specific' comes from Latin 'specificus' (from 'species') meaning 'of a particular kind or appearance'.

'purpose' evolved from Old French 'porpos' and Latin 'propositum', entering Middle English as 'purpose'. 'specific' entered English from Latin via French 'spécifique'. The compound formation 'purpose-specific' is a more recent English coinage formed by combining these established words to express targeted suitability.

Individually, 'purpose' referred to an intention or aim and 'specific' referred to a particular kind; combined as 'purpose-specific' the meaning narrowed to 'designed for a particular function' rather than the separate senses of aim and kind.