system
Americannoun
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systems
plural
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an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole.
a mountain system; a railroad system.
- Synonyms:
- unit
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any assemblage or set of correlated members.
a system of currency; a system of shorthand characters.
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an ordered and comprehensive assemblage of facts, principles, doctrines, or the like in a particular field of knowledge or thought.
a system of philosophy.
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a coordinated body of methods or a scheme or plan of procedure; organizational scheme.
a system of government.
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any formulated, regular, or special method or plan of procedure.
a system of marking, numbering, or measuring; a winning system at bridge.
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due method or orderly manner of arrangement or procedure.
There is no system in his work.
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the world or universe.
- Synonyms:
- cosmos
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Astronomy.
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a number of heavenly bodies associated and acting together according to certain natural laws.
the solar system.
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a hypothesis or theory of the disposition and arrangements of the heavenly bodies by which their phenomena, motions, changes, etc., are explained.
the Ptolemaic system; the Copernican system.
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Biology.
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an assemblage of organs or related tissues concerned with the same function.
the nervous system; the digestive system.
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the entire human or animal body considered as a functioning unit.
an ingredient toxic to the system.
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one's psychological makeup, especially with reference to desires or preoccupations.
to get something out of one's system.
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a method or scheme of classification.
the Linnean system of plants.
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Usually the system the prevailing structure or organization of society, business, or politics or of society in general; establishment.
to work within the system instead of trying to change it.
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Geology. a major division of rocks comprising sedimentary deposits and igneous masses formed during a single geologic period.
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Physical Chemistry. a combination of two or more phases, as a binary system, each of which consists of one or more substances, that is attaining or is in equilibrium.
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Computers. a working combination of hardware, software, and data communications devices.
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Checkers. either of the two groups of 16 playing squares on four alternate columns.
noun
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a group or combination of interrelated, interdependent, or interacting elements forming a collective entity; a methodical or coordinated assemblage of parts, facts, concepts, etc
a system of currency
the Copernican system
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any scheme of classification or arrangement
a chronological system
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a network of communications, transportation, or distribution
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a method or complex of methods
he has a perfect system at roulette
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orderliness; an ordered manner
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(often capital) society seen as an environment exploiting, restricting, and repressing individuals
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an organism considered as a functioning entity
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any of various bodily parts or structures that are anatomically or physiologically related
the digestive system
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one's physiological or psychological constitution
get it out of your system
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any assembly of electronic, electrical, or mechanical components with interdependent functions, usually forming a self-contained unit
a brake system
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a group of celestial bodies that are associated as a result of natural laws, esp gravitational attraction
the solar system
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chem a sample of matter in which there are one or more substances in one or more phases See also phase rule
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a point of view or doctrine used to interpret a branch of knowledge
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Also called: crystal system. mineralogy one of a group of divisions into which crystals may be placed on the basis of the lengths and inclinations of their axes
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geology a stratigraphical unit for the rock strata formed during a period of geological time. It can be subdivided into series
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of system
First recorded in 1610–20; from Late Latin systēma, from Greek sýstēma whole compounded of several parts, equivalent to sy- “”with, together” + stē- (variant stem of histánai “to cause to stand”; akin to Latin stāre “to stand” ) + -ma noun suffix denoting result of action; see sy-, stand
Explanation
A system is a group of things that connect and form some kind of coherent whole. All the individual buses and the separate routes they take through your city are together called a bus system. Any time various separate things act together in some organized way, you can call the entire group of interconnected things a system. Your veins, arteries, and heart together make up your body's circulatory system, and the group of planets which rotate around the sun are called a solar system. The Greek word systema, or "organized whole," is where system originates.
Vocabulary lists containing system
Word Generation Science - Scientific Thinking
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The raft of changes include a new system for sharing information on persistently disruptive passengers, which would be created with help from airlines and trade unions.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
He added that 27 air strikes had targeted an "integrated military system" belonging to the Houthis in Taiz.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The most recent event, involving “a resident’s guest who attempted to steal copper wire from the water system, affected more than 20 units and several common areas.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
AI’s creators are bowing to Clarke when they admit they don’t actually know if a system will escape containment, or exactly how it decided to, and where it will go next.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
The sprinkler system kicked in overhead, providing only limited relief, soaking the both of them but doing little to disperse the smoke.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Japanese society has failed to design systems with pregnancy in mind, one claimed.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
The agencies use different data systems, and even different Google spreadsheets, to produce their reports and often have different bureaus within them managing different housing programs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The atmosphere, weather and nighttime limit how much power ground-based systems can harness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Various AI systems retain more information about their users in order to help agents execute tasks with more context.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
When the first seismic waves reached the power plant at Fukushima Daiichi, fail-safe systems shut down the reactors.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
