Word
systemic
Phoneticssys·temic
US/sɪˈstɛmɪk/
UK/sɪstˈɛmɪk/
Definitions
01affecting a whole system
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. affecting an entire organization, society, or system rather than just one part.
adj. embedded within and spread throughout an entire system, group, or society. Often used to describe structural problems like bias or economic failure.
“The company needs to fix systemic problems that cause delays in every department.”
“Economists warned that the failure of a major bank could lead to systemic risk across the global financial market.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Pitfall
The computer had a systemic error.
The computer had a systematic error.
Use 'systemic' for something that affects the whole system; use 'systematic' for something done according to a fixed plan or method.
Synonyms
02affecting the whole body
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical
adj. affecting your whole body through the blood, rather than just one spot.
adj. relating to the entire body or organism as a whole. In medicine, it describes treatments or diseases that travel through the bloodstream to reach all organs.
“The doctor prescribed a systemic medication to treat the infection throughout his body.”
“While a cream treats the skin locally, a systemic antibiotic is necessary to eliminate the bacteria from the patient's bloodstream.”
Usage
Often contrasted with 'topical' or 'local' in medical contexts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “systemic” in context.
Adjective
01. systemic challenge
“The decline in manufacturing represents a systemic challenge that requires a comprehensive economic overhaul.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The show brilliantly dissects racism, from the sweeping and systemic to the petty and everyday.” “By contrast, p-cresol sulfate and phenol sulfate come from tyrosine and have been linked to worse outcomes in cancer patients as well as systemic toxicity in people with kidney disease.” Etymology
From system + -ic. Doublet of systematic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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