# systemic

/sɪˈstɛmɪk/ (US) · /sɪstˈɛmɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/systemic
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. affecting a whole system

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

affecting an entire organization, society, or system rather than just one part.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. affecting the whole body

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

affecting your whole body through the blood, rather than just one spot.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The company needs to fix systemic problems in its management.
- The investigation revealed systemic failures in the hospital's safety protocols that had gone unnoticed for years.
- Economists warned that the collapse of a major bank could trigger systemic risk, potentially destabilizing the entire global financial infrastructure within days.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.