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 Studies have found no definitive link between babies’ brain and eye development and DHA supplementation, a 2017 meta-analysis of 15 studies found, according to Cochrane, a nonprofit that supports systematic reviews of health research. Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 21 Mar. 2024 Last July, The Associated Press reported that thousands of Ukrainian civilians were being held in Russian prisons and subjected to systematic torture and slave labor. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024 By adding up all the percentages produced across the country, a systematic pattern of deliberate falsification emerges. Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 And a systematic review of literature last year found that there was not enough evidence to say there’s an association between testosterone therapy for trans men and liver tumors. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 11 Mar. 2024 Breaking down and organizing tasks on a daily and weekly basis allows for a systematic approach to planning and executing each aspect of your vision. Britney Porter, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Israel, however, has refused to pull back and been reluctant to agree to a long-term cease-fire, saying the systematic murder of civilians in the Oct. 7 attack has altered the country’s mindset about how to respond to Hamas. Yasmine Salam, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 The government is taking a systematic, comprehensive approach Congress allocated $1.2 billion in late 2020 to study long COVID and begin to develop treatments. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 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

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 28 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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