'scandal-related' originates from Modern English, specifically the words 'scandal' and 'related', where 'scandal' came via Latin and Old French from Greek 'skandalon' meaning 'stumbling block/trap' and 'related' is the adjective form of 'relate' from Latin 'relatus'.

'scandal-related' was formed in modern English by compounding the noun 'scandal' (from Greek 'skandalon' > Latin 'scandalum' > Old French > Middle English 'scandal') with the past-participle/adjective 'related' (from Latin 'relatus', past participle of 'referre'/'relare' through Old French to Middle English 'relaten'), resulting in the compound adjective used in current English.

Initially, 'scandal' originally meant 'stumbling block' or 'cause for offense' and 'related' meant 'brought back' or 'connected'; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'connected to or concerning a public scandal' and retains that focused modern sense.