systemic

1 of 2

adjective

sys·​tem·​ic si-ˈste-mik 

: 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)

There's also the issue of pollinator health. Once a systemic pesticide is applied it travels through the entire tree and pollinators can take it up.

—Dave Shaw, quoted in The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)

d

: fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice

… the systemic poverty instigated and perpetuated by … punitive government policy.

—Stephanie Convery

People are tired of marching. People are tired of hashtag protests. People want some systemic change.

—Rev. Tiffany Thomas

see also systemic racism

systemically

si-ˈste-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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, be that system physical, organizational, or societal. 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. Systemic is also used specifically to identify something as fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice.

systemic racism

systemic

2 of 2

noun

: a systemic pesticide

Examples 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

And while rate cuts have traditionally been the Federal Reserve’s primary tool to support the labor market, central bankers say AI may already have caused systemic damage that can’t be fixed through monetary policy. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

In 2022, Eilish signed an open letter from Global Citizen urging the most powerful governments, private sector leaders, and billionaires to commit to breaking systemic barriers that keep people in poverty and take climate action. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025

Noun

This systemic rounding up of women is depicted in the first few episodes of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. —Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Aug. 2025

Obesity can trigger chronic systemic (body-wide) inflammation, which can create an environment for cancer cells to grow. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1803, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing systemic

• systemic lupus erythematosus
• systemic racism
• systemic risk

Rhymes for systemic

• anaemic
• endemic
• glycemic
• pandemic
• polemic
• academic
• epidemic
• epistemic
• hyperemic
• chemic
• remic
• hypovolemic

Kids Definition

systemic

adjective

sys·​tem·​ic

sis-ˈtem-ik

: of, relating to, or common to a system: as

a

: of or relating to the body as a whole

a systemic disease

b

: concerned with the circulation that supplies blood to the bodily tissues through the aorta rather than the circulation involved in carrying blood through the pulmonary artery

c

: fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice

systemic change

Medical Definition

systemic

1 of 2 adjective

sys·​tem·​ic sis-ˈtem-ik 

: 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)

systemically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

systemic

2 of 2 noun

: a systemic pesticide