career-making
UK[kəˈrɪəˌmeɪkɪŋ]US[kəˈrɪrˌmeɪkɪŋ]
adj
(of an event, role, or achievement) having the potential to establish or significantly advance someone's professional success and reputation.
Morpheme Breakdown
career
making
career
profession
making
creating
Etymology
The word is a modern English compound adjective formed by combining two established words. "Career" originates from the Latin 'carrus' (wheeled vehicle), evolving through French to denote a racecourse and later metaphorically one's course or progress through professional life. "Making" derives from the ubiquitous Proto-Germanic verb root makōn-, meaning to construct or form. The compound's logic is transparently literal: "career-making" describes something that has the power to construct or define a professional trajectory, directly linking the ancient concept of creation ('making') with the modern metaphorical path of a 'career.'
Analysis
Structure: career (profession) + making (creating)
- career: From Latin 'carraria' (via French 'carrière'), meaning "road, carriageway." In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "one's professional life or path."
- making: From Old English 'macian,' meaning "to make, create." In this compound, it functions as a present participle/gerund, meaning "the act of creating or establishing."
Examples
Her performance in that independent film was a career-making role.
The scientist considered the groundbreaking discovery his career-making achievement.
Winning such a prestigious award can be a career-making event for a young artist.