export-driven
UK[ɪkˈspɔːt drɪvn]US[ˈɛkˌspɔrt drɪvn]
adj
Describing an economy, industry, or policy whose growth and success are primarily caused by or dependent on the selling of goods to other countries.
Morpheme Breakdown
export
driven
export
to carry out
driven
propelled, motivated, or controlled by
Etymology
The adjective 'export-driven' is a modern compound, formed in English by combining two pre-existing words. The first element, 'export', originates from the Latin 'exportare' (ex-, "out" + portare, "to carry"), literally "to carry out," which evolved to mean sending goods out of a country for sale. The second element, 'driven', derives from the Old English verb 'drīfan', meaning "to propel or urge forward," with deep Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots related to pushing. The compound's logic is transparent: it describes a system whose direction and momentum are provided by the force of exports, metaphorically extending the literal sense of being physically propelled. This term emerged in the mid-20th century to describe post-war economic models where national prosperity was explicitly linked to success in international trade.
Analysis
Structure: export + driven
export: From Latin 'exportare', meaning "to carry out". In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "the act of selling goods abroad".
driven: Past participle of the verb 'drive', from Old English 'drīfan'. In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming element meaning "propelled, motivated, or controlled by".
Examples
The country has transformed into an export-driven economy, with manufactured goods being its primary source of revenue.
Their export-driven growth strategy relies heavily on maintaining competitive prices in global markets.
The policy shifts are designed to support export-driven industries like electronics and automotive manufacturing.