'subject-centered' is a compound of 'subject' + 'centered'. 'subject' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'subjectus', where 'sub-' meant 'under' and the root from 'jacere/ject-' meant 'to throw' or 'to place'. 'centered' comes from 'center', which originates ultimately from Greek 'kentrón' (through Latin 'centrum' and Old French 'centre').

'subject' passed from Latin 'subjectus' into Old French as 'sujet' and then into Middle English as 'subject'. 'center' came from Greek 'kentrón' to Latin 'centrum', Old French 'centre', then Middle English 'centre' and modern English 'center/centre'. The compound adjective arose in modern English (notably in educational writing) as 'subject-centred' (British) and 'subject-centered' (American).

Initially elements like 'subject' and 'center' had literal spatial senses ('placed under', 'center point'). Over time the compound 'subject-centered' came to mean 'organized around or giving priority to a subject/topic', especially in educational contexts; this specialized meaning is stable in modern usage.