systemically
|sys-tem-ic-al-ly|
/sɪˈstɛmɪk/
(systemic)
affecting the whole
Etymology
'systemic' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'systemicus', where 'systema' (from Greek) meant 'organized whole' (from Greek 'syn-' meaning 'together' and 'histēmi'/'histanai' meaning 'to stand' or 'to set up').
'systemic' changed from Latin/New Latin 'systemicus' (derived from Greek 'systēma'/'systēmatikos') and entered modern English usage as 'systemic' (with the adverb 'systemically') by way of scholarly/medical Latin borrowings in the 18th–19th centuries.
Initially it meant 'of or relating to a system' (i.e., pertaining to an organized whole), but over time it evolved to emphasize 'affecting an entire system' or 'inherent to the system' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a way that affects, relates to, or involves an entire system rather than just parts or symptoms.
The reforms were implemented systemically to improve care across the whole hospital network.
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Adverb 2
in a thorough, fundamental, or organized manner, addressing root causes rather than temporary fixes.
To solve the recurring outages, the team acted systemically instead of applying temporary patches.
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Last updated: 2025/12/26 14:08