systematic

adjective

sys·​tem·​at·​ic ˌsi-stə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce systematic (audio)
1
: relating to or consisting of a system
2
: presented or formulated as a coherent body of ideas or principles
systematic thought
3
a
: methodical in procedure or plan
a systematic approach
a systematic scholar
b
: marked by thoroughness and regularity
systematic efforts
4
: of, relating to, or concerned with classification
specifically : taxonomic
systematically adverb
systematicness noun
Systematic and Systemic: Usage Guide

Systematic and systemic both come from system. Systematic is the more common word; it most often describes something that is done according to a system or method

a systematic approach to learning that involves carefully following the program's steps

Systemic describes what relates to or affects an entire system. For example, a systemic disease affects the entire body or organism, and systemic changes to an organization have an impact on the entire organization, including its most basic operations.

Examples of systematic in a Sentence

We used a systematic approach to solve the problem. She made a systematic study of the evidence. the systematic production of cars
Recent Examples on the Web To hear calls for the systematic segregation and firing of anyone who deems genocide appalling is shocking. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 For 100 straight days after the Colosseum opened in 80 C.E., tens of thousands of citizens packed into the amphitheater to ogle staged hunts and gladiatorial combat — or, to put it bluntly, the systematic slaughter of animals and men. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Logical fallacies are quite similar to cognitive biases which can be defined as the systematic departure from rational thinking. Christine Comaford, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Palestinians view the conflict as a systematic campaign by Jewish militias to terrorize Palestinian civilians and drive them from their lands. Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 Her character was an Osage woman married to a key accomplice in the systematic assassination of the Osage people in the 1920s. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024 On the West Bank, anger over the war is compounded by the systematic violence of Israeli settlers who have assaulted Palestinians, driven some from their homes, and prevented others from harvesting their olives and grazing their sheep. Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 And the stringent, systematic De Keersmaeker even flicked her fingers for bursts of air piano. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 How do people within a specific systematic culture change careers? Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'systematic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin systematicus, from Greek systēmatikos, from systēmat-, systēma

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of systematic was in 1666

Dictionary Entries Near systematic

Cite this Entry

“Systematic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/systematic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

systematic

adjective
sys·​tem·​at·​ic ˌsis-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce systematic (audio)
1
: relating to or forming a system
systematic thought
2
: presented or worked out as a system
3
: carried out or acting with thoroughness or regularity
systematic efforts
systematically adverb

Medical Definition

systematic

adjective
sys·​tem·​at·​ic ˌsis-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce systematic (audio)
: of, relating to, or concerned with classification
specifically : taxonomic
systematically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on systematic

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