systemic

[ si-stem-ik ]

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

/ -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

Derived Forms

• sysˈtemically, adverb

Other Words From

• sys·tem·i·cal·ly adverb
• non·sys·tem·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of systemic¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; system + -ic

Example Sentences

"This is a very safe therapeutic approach as it reduces the risk of side effects in the rest of the body, a problem with many other systemic drugs," Dr Muttenthaler said.

From Science Daily

Annie Hudson, the panel's chair, said the new legislation would "go some way towards tackling some of the systemic weaknesses that can create the conditions where very vulnerable children are abused and neglected".

From BBC

"This study highlights the systemic health impacts of climate stressors including air quality, wildfires, temperature, and drought conditions and the continued need to for transdisciplinary research," she said.

From Science Daily

But England's good work was soon undone as the individual errors and systemic failings that have pockmarked this month surfaced once more.

From BBC

"We were able to isolate the synaptic mechanisms that drove this and also show that this same phenomenon can be manipulated or blocked by using systemically available drugs."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• fundamental
• integral
• intrinsic