systematic
Americanadjective
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having, showing, or involving a system, method, or plan.
a systematic course of reading; systematic efforts.
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given to or using a system or method; methodical.
a systematic person.
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arranged in or comprising an ordered system.
systematic theology.
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concerned with classification.
systematic botany.
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pertaining to, based on, or in accordance with a system of classification.
the systematic names of plants.
adjective
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characterized by the use of order and planning; methodical
a systematic administrator
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comprising or resembling a system
systematic theology
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Also: systematical. biology of or relating to the taxonomic classification of organisms
Related Words
See orderly.
Other Word Forms
- intersystematic adjective
- intersystematical adjective
- nonsystematic adjective
- nonsystematical adjective
- oversystematic adjective
- oversystematicness noun
- presystematic adjective
- quasi-systematic adjective
- systematically adverb
- systematicness noun
- unsystematic adjective
- unsystematical adjective
Etymology
Origin of systematic
First recorded in 1670–80; from Late Latin systēmaticus, from Greek systēmatikós, equivalent to systēmat- (stem of sýstēma ) “system” + -ikos adjective suffix; see origin at system, -ic
Explanation
Systematic describes something that is planned out and careful. In your systematic search for your mother's car keys, you start in one room, looking everywhere from bottom to top before moving to the next room. Use the adjective systematic to describe things that are orderly and efficient. The Latin root of systematic is systema, an arrangement or system. Think about a multi-step process that you have found the fastest and best way to complete — you do it over and over. You might be systematic about packing for a long trip or the way you travel up and down the aisles at a grocery store, probably with a list in your hand.
Vocabulary lists containing systematic
List 6
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Holes
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The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
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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.
These methods allowed them to study the meaning and structure of dream descriptions in a systematic way.
From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026
Salafsky calls the type of evidence synthesis the group was doing “aluminium standard,” because it’s cheaper and quicker than a gold-standard systematic review but still good enough for the job.
From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026
Meanwhile, CTAs — systematic funds that focus on trading futures contracts — are no longer, for the first time in a month, buyers of the S&P 500.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
For now, analyzing trading flows offers the best insight into quants and other systematic investors, who invest off data analysis and computerized trading rules.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
Many nations understand that the systematic murder of such intelligent creatures is monstrous, but the traffic continues, promoted chiefly by Japan, Norway and the Soviet Union.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
