sys·tem·ic | \ si-ˈste-mik 
\
\Definition of systemic
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or common to a system: such as
a : affecting the body generally
systemic diseases
b : supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery
c : of, relating to, or being a pesticide that as used is harmless to the plant or higher animal but when absorbed into its sap or bloodstream makes the entire organism toxic to pests (such as an insect or fungus)
Neonics … are what is known as "systemic" pesticides. That is, the neonics are applied directly to seeds, and those treated seeds then grow into the crops that contain neonicotinoids in their pollen, their nectar and, indeed, their every fiber.— Joel Bleifuss
d : fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice
systemic poverty Our nation faces a fork in the road and a decision to either continue down the same path of systemic racism or to confront our past honestly.— Bree Newsome People are tired of marching. People are tired of hashtag protests. People want some systemic change.— Rev. Tiffany Thomas
systemic
nounDefinition of systemic (Entry 2 of 2)
: a systemic pesticide
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Other Words from systemic
Adjective
systemically \ si-ˈste-mi-k(ə-)lē \ adverb
\ adverbExamples of systemic in a Sentence
Adjective
The company made some systemic changes to the way it operated.
The problem seems to be systemic.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective One of my concerns is that the groups that have been disproportionately burdened by this pandemic and by this long-standing history of systemic discrimination will be last in line to receive the vaccine.
—
Ed Yong, The Atlantic, "Bill Gates: The Pandemic Has Erased Years of Progress," 24 Sep. 2020 While parts of the developed world grapple with issues of systemic discrimination and gender imbalances in the workplace, Japan’s government is, by and large, keeping calm and carrying on.
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Simon Denyer, Washington Post, "Japan’s new cabinet looks a lot like its old (male-dominated) cabinet," 16 Sep. 2020 His answer to the question of how to live in a world that demands unacceptable moral compromises and how a citizen should resist systemic oppression was decided, in large part, by the experiment in living that is Walden.
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R.h. Lossin, The New York Review of Books, "The Revolutionary Thoreau," 4 Sep. 2020 As Floyd’s death set off national protests over the systemic oppression of Black people, Frey has tried to navigate his role as a white mayor of a city where Black residents are reeling over racial injustice and police brutality.
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Maya Rao, Star Tribune, "Mayor Jacob Frey asks Minneapolis' Black community for help after George Floyd's killing, unrest," 22 Aug. 2020 One of the several organizations helping bring 826 to Dallas is For Oak Cliff, a nonprofit that began as a back-to-school drive and has expanded its mission to freeing Oak Cliff from systemic oppression.
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Dallas News, "UNT Dallas to bring 826, a whimsical writing center, to southern Dallas," 12 Aug. 2020 While human lives are being shattered through systemic discrimination and often too-brutal police tactics.
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Eric Zorn, chicagotribune.com, "Column: BLM’s racial justice message vs. ‘law and order’," 11 Aug. 2020 The issues sparking the birth of the school’s College of Ethnic Studies in the late ’60s were all too familiar: student strikes and protests against systemic discrimination and limited opportunities for people of color.
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Ron Kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "Black Lives Matter gives fresh urgency to Bay Area ethnic studies programs," 29 June 2020 Those who benefit from systemic discrimination are fighting just as hard to keep certain biased laws and policies in place as those who are trying to dismantle them.
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Karen Yuan, Fortune, "Black employees say performative allyship is rampant in the office," 19 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun There’s no formula for grieving, listening, advocating and being an ally, especially for those confronting this systemic rot for the first time.
—
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, "Opinion: MLB response to George Floyd killing exposes its limitations as a social institution," 4 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'systemic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for systemic
systemic
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of systemic
formal : of or relating to an entire system
medical : of, relating to, or affecting the entire body
See the full definition for systemic in the English Language Learners Dictionary
systemic
adjectivesys·tem·ic | \ si-ˈste-mik \
\Kids Definition of systemic
: of or relating to the body as a whole
systemic disease
systemic
adjectivesys·tem·ic | \ sis-ˈtem-ik \
\Medical Definition of systemic
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or common to a system: as
a : affecting the body generally — compare local
b : supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery
c : being a pesticide that as used is harmless to a higher animal or a plant but when absorbed into the bloodstream or the sap makes the whole organism toxic to pests (as cattle grubs, mites, or aphids)
Other Words from systemic
systemically \ -i-k(ə-)lē \ adverb
\ adverbsystemic
nounMedical Definition of systemic (Entry 2 of 2)
: a systemic pesticide
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Time Traveler for systemic
The first known use of systemic was in 1803
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