Systemic (adj.) relating to or affecting an entire system, especially the body or an organization, rather than a single part. It implies pervasive, structural influence or origin, often contrasted with localized issues. In medicine or policy, systemic denotes effects that spread throughout the whole, not confined to one area.
"The patient has a systemic infection that requires broad-spectrum antibiotics."
"There are systemic errors in the organization's procurement process."
"The policy caused systemic changes across multiple departments."
"The clinician suspected a systemic issue rather than a localized injury."
Systemic comes from the noun system, via the French systemic and late Latin systemicus, from Greek systema meaning ‘a whole set, organized arrangement,’ from syntein, meaning ‘to set or place together.’ The root system itself traces to syn- ‘together’ + histemi ‘to set, cause to stand.’ In English, -ic forms adjectives describing relation or pertaining to. The word evolved in scientific and medical usage in the 18th–19th centuries, initially describing systems of the body or of machines. By the 20th century, systemic acquired resistance and systemic diseases broadened its semantic field to denote widespread or integrated phenomena rather than isolated parts. First known use in English appears in technical medical and biological texts of the 1700s–1800s, with extended metaphorical uses in social and organizational discourse becoming common in the late 20th century. The sense of something affecting an entire system—physical, organizational, or ecological—remains the prevailing meaning today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Systemic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Systemic"
-tic sounds
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Systemic is pronounced /ˈsɪs.tə.mɪk/ in US and UK dictionaries. The primary stress is on the first syllable: SYS-, with two weakly stressed following syllables. The first vowel is a short near-close near-front unrounded /ɪ/ as in 'sit,' the middle vowel is a schwa /tə/ in the unstressed second syllable, and the final vowel is /ɪ/ as in 'kit' before a final /k/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, raise the tongue to a high-front position for /ɪ/, then relax into a schwa for /ə/ and finish with a crisp /k/ release. Audio references: you can compare with Cambridge and Oxford audio samples for confirmation.
Common errors include over-angling the second syllable vowel, saying /ˈsɪstəˌmeɪk/ or /ˈsɪs.tə.mɪk/ with a prolonged /iː/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable. Another mistake is blending the middle /tə/ too strongly with the first or final consonant, producing /ˈsɪstəmɪk/ without clear /tə/ separation. Correction: keep the first syllable clearly /ˈsɪs/, insert a light, unstressed /tə/ in the middle, and finalize with /mɪk/. Practice with minimal pairs and slow tempo to stabilize the schwa in the middle syllable.
US and UK share /ˈsɪs.tə.mɪk/ with primary stress on the first syllable. In some Australian speech, you may hear a slightly more centered /ə/ in the middle syllable, but the rhythm remains trisyllabic. The final /ɪk/ often has a crisp /ɪ/ before /k/ in all three. Rhoticity doesn’t alter the word’s core vowels, but tempo and vowel color can shift: US tends toward a slightly tenser /ɪ/ in the first vowel; UK often keeps the /ɪ/ similar but with a more clipped middle /tə/ due to non-rhotic tendencies. Overall, the pattern SYS-te-mic remains consistent.
The challenge lies in the rapid, three-syllable rhythm with a distinct snappy first syllable and a short, unstressed middle syllable. The first /ɪ/ in /ˈsɪs/ is vowel-short and requires precise articulation so it doesn’t bleed into the /t/; the middle /tə/ is a weak vowel that can reduce toward a schwa, risking loss of syllable clarity; the final /ɪk/ must be kept crisp before /k/ to avoid a vague /mɪk/ ending. Practicing with slow counts helps you preserve clean boundaries.
A key feature of 'Systemic' is the distinct /t/ release between the first and second syllables. Some speakers may assimilate the /t/ with the following /ə/ becoming /sɪs.də.mɪk/ in rapid speech, which muddies syllable separation. To avoid this, deliberately separate the syllables during practice: /ˈsɪs/ + /tə/ + /mɪk/ with a light aspirated /t/ and a brief pause or clear boundary between /s/ and /tə/.
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