HN Explorer

Ask HN: 'Systemic' vs. 'Systematic': which is the correct one?

3 points by samburrowsryde ↗ HN
Systemic describes something that happens or exists throughout a whole system. It is the newer word; it entered English in the early 1800s.

  "He has a systemic infection."

  "The new police chief had to address systemic corruption."
Systematic describes something that was thorough and intentional, methodical, or implemented according to a plan. It is the older word, having entered English around 1670.

  "Doctors began a systematic treatment plan."

  "Ending systematic discrimination was his first goal."

2 comments

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lynsfiend
They could potentially both be right, depending on the subject matter they address describing.
BLKNSLVR
They're two different words with two different uses, neither can be called "correct" without providing the context into which it is going to be used.

"The Doctors began a systematic treatment plan to treat the patient's systemic infection."

"Systemic corruption was found to be the root cause of systematic discrimination throughout the department"