ENGLISH
REFERENCE

systemic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //sɪˈstɛmɪk// UK //sɪstˈɛmɪk// sys·temic

adj. affecting an entire system or organization rather than just one small part. You use this to describe problems or rules that are built into the way a whole group works.

adj. relating to or affecting an entire system as a whole, rather than its individual components. Often describes deep-seated issues within social, political, or biological structures.


SIMPLE

The company needs to fix systemic problems in its management.

CONTEXTUAL

The investigation revealed systemic failures in the hospital's safety protocols that had gone unnoticed for years.

COMPLEX

Economists warned that the collapse of a major bank could trigger systemic risk, potentially destabilizing the entire global financial infrastructure within days.

Origin

From system + -ic. Doublet of systematic.

Usage

Typically used to modify nouns like 'risk', 'failure', 'racism', or 'change'.

Pitfall

a systematic problema systemic problem'Systematic' means done according to a plan or method, while 'systemic' means affecting the whole system.

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