System
'sɪstəm
Definitions
3 meaningsA set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network.
'sɪstəm
An organized set of connected things
The system of checks and balances in the government is designed to prevent tyranny.
💡 Simply: Imagine a team of people working together to make something happen, like a football team or a band. That's a system! Everything fits together to achieve a goal.
👶 For kids: A system is like a team that works together to do something.
More Examples
The body's immune system protects against illness.
The new software system has improved efficiency in the office.
How It's Used
"The school has a new grading system."
"The operating system crashed."
"The circulatory system transports blood."
A method or plan for doing something.
'sɪstəm
A method or procedure
The new accounting system streamlined the company's finances.
💡 Simply: Think of a recipe: a system for cooking a meal. Or a schedule: a system for organizing your time. It's just a set of steps to follow to get a specific result.
👶 For kids: A system is a way to do something.
More Examples
They developed a system for sorting the mail efficiently.
The government has a welfare system to help those in need.
How It's Used
"The company implemented a new sales system."
"The teacher followed a strict disciplinary system."
A set of principles or beliefs.
'sɪstəm
A set of interrelated principles or beliefs
The philosophical system of Kant had a profound influence on modern thought.
💡 Simply: Think of the rules of a game or a way of running a country, a system can involve beliefs, principles, and rules to help it work.
👶 For kids: A system is like the rules in a game.
More Examples
The new president is trying to change the political system.
Her belief system centered on the importance of helping others.
How It's Used
"Plato's philosophical system is based on his theory of forms."
"The country operates under a democratic system."
Synonyms
Arrangement
Framework
Method
Network
Organization
Structure
Approach
Plan
Procedure
Process
Scheme
Doctrine
Ideology
Paradigm
Philosophy
Idioms & expressions
the system
The established social or political order.
"He felt marginalized by the system."
Gaming the system
Exploiting the rules of a system for personal gain or advantage.
"He was gaming the system by claiming benefits he wasn't entitled to."
beating the system
To evade the law or rules, or get an advantage out of a system.
"He was always trying to beat the system to avoid paying taxes."
From Late Latin *systēma*, from Greek *systēma* (σύστημα), meaning 'an organized whole' or 'compilation'. The word evolved to encompass various organized arrangements and sets of connected things.
The word 'system' has been used since the early 17th century to denote an ordered arrangement or a collection of parts that interact.
Memory tip
Think of a machine: all the parts are a system, and the machine won't work without it.