Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

systemic racism

American  
[si-stem-ik rey-siz-uhm] / sɪˈstɛm ɪk ˈreɪ sɪz əm /

noun

  1. racism.


Etymology

Origin of systemic racism

First recorded in 1970–75

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:

"Now we need to go beyond the symbolic," he said, urging a "real reparations programme", including for example more funds for educational projects to transmit history and help battle systemic racism.

From Barron's May 28, 2026

Dr Shereen Daniels said that systemic racism was "not a matter of perception", adding that "true accountability begins with specificity".

From BBC Nov. 7, 2025

He has continued Dr. King’s legacy in building such a coalition that address the intersectionality of systemic racism, poverty, environmental degradation and religious nationalism.

From Salon Jan. 20, 2025

Dana Sherrod, cofounder and executive director of the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, said that “by omitting the mention of systemic racism, it is putting the blame back onto patients.”

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 29, 2024

He starts by talking about his experience growing up Black in Mississippi and moves on to talk about systemic racism and how we don’t even realize how embedded it is in our world.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training