systemic

American  

[si-stem-ik] / sɪˈstɛm ɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a system, especially when affecting the entirety of a thing.

   systemic flaws in the design and construction of the vehicles.

2. relating to or noting a policy, practice, or set of beliefs that has been established as normative or customary throughout a political, social, or economic system: systemic racism.

   systemic inequality;

   systemic racism.

3. Physiology, Pathology.

   1. relating to or affecting the body as a whole.

   2. relating to or affecting a particular body system.

4. (of a pesticide) absorbed and circulated by a plant or other organism so as to be lethal to pests that feed on it.

---

systemic British  

/ -ˈstiː-, sɪˈstɛmɪk /

adjective

1. another word for systematic systematic

2. physiol (of a poison, disease, etc) affecting the entire body

3. (of a pesticide, fungicide, etc) spreading through all the parts of a plant and making it toxic to pests or parasites without destroying it

---

noun

1. a systemic pesticide, fungicide, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonsystemic
  adjective
• systemically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of systemic

First recorded in 1795–1805; system + -ic

Explanation

Something that's systemic affects all parts of something. If every dog at doggy daycare has fleas, it's a systemic problem. The adjective systemic is often used to describe diseases or disorders; a systemic illness affects your whole body or an entire system — like your digestive system. Any kind of system can experience systemic problems. For example, crime is a systemic problem in a community because it affects everyone from individuals to families, businesses, and tourism, just to name a few groups harmed by the problem.

Example Sentences

It is to say, however, that it is unlikely we will have a systemic European bond crisis, despite the headwinds caused by the war.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

"There's been systemic failure going on. And so in light of that, it seemed like the only course of action is to take legal action and make polluters pay."

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

“We were actually out there for Rowan’s first checkup after finishing his last round of systemic chemo,” Olson said, “so the whole trip already carried this sense of celebration and relief.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Ocasio-Cortez’s press secretary, Karla Santillan, told Salon in an email that the representative was “personally following up on her question line regarding systemic fraud in the Medicare Advantage Program.”

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

What may have looked like separate events were all evidence of seismic and systemic social change.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• fundamental
• integral
• intrinsic