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system.

A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.

6 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈsɪstəm/
  1. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.

    countable · uncountable
  2. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of hardware and software operating in a computer.

    countable · uncountable
  3. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of equations involving the same variables, which are to be solved simultaneously.

    countable · uncountable
  4. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of staves linked by a brace that indicate instruments or sounds that are to be played simultaneously.

    countable · uncountable
  5. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of body organs having a particular function.

    countable · uncountable
    the digestive system  the nervous system
  6. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of alters of a person, or the multiple (“an individual with multiple personalities”) who contains them.

    countable · uncountable
  7. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A system in which two or more objects are bound to each other by gravity.

    countable · uncountable
    There are eight planets in the solar system.
  8. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A comprehensive and logically organized set of propositions or philosophical beliefs.

    countable · uncountable
  9. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. The mainstream culture, controlled by the elites or government of a state, or a combination of them, seen as oppressive to the individual.

    capitalized · countable · derogatory · often · uncountable
  10. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A set of rules for a tabletop roleplaying game.

    countable · uncountable
  11. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. A socioeconomic formation.

    countable · uncountable
    The capitalist system
  12. A method or way of organizing or planning.

    countable · uncountable
    Followers should have a system to follow that works in their interests, not against them.
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱómder.? Proto-Indo-European *sem-der.? Proto-Hellenic *ksún Ancient Greek σύν (sún) Ancient Greek συν- (sun-) Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi Ancient Greek ἵστημι (hístēmi) Ancient Greek σῠνῐ́στημῐ (sŭnĭ́stēmĭ) Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Hellenic *-mə Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek σύστημα (sústēma)bor. Late Latin systēma Middle French systemebor. English system Partly borrowed from Middle French sisteme, systeme, partly directly from its etymon Late Latin systēma (“harmony; musical scale; set of celestial objects; set of troops; system”), from Ancient Greek σύστημα (sústēma, “musical scale; organized body; whole made of several parts or members”), from σῠνίστημῐ (sŭnístēmĭ, “to combine, organize”) + -μᾰ (-mă, resultative suffix). σῠνίστημῐ is from σῠν- (sŭn-, “with, together”) + ἵστημι (hístēmi, “to stand”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”). Cognate with Dutch systeem, modern French système, German System, Italian sistema, Portuguese sistema, Spanish sistema. Doublet of systema.

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Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.