Partly borrowed from Middle French sisteme, systeme, partly directly from its etymon Late Latin systēma, from Ancient Greek σύστημα, from σῠνίστημῐ ("to combine, organize") + -μᾰ.

Cognate with Dutch systeem, modern French système, German System, Italian sistema, Portuguese sistema, Spanish sistema. Doublet of systema.

• enPR: sĭsʹtəm, IPA: /ˈsɪstəm/

system (plural systems)

1. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. [from early 17th c.]

   Synonyms: arrangement, complex, composition, organization, set up, structure

   • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC ↗, page 112 ↗:

     Every age has its characteristic, and our present one is not behind its predecessors in that respect; it is the age of systems, every system enforced by a treatise. The politician who opposes the corn-laws and advocates free trade, does so on a system, which, as soon as it begins to work, will set the civilized world to rights.

   1. (computing) A set of hardware and software operating in a computer.
   2. (mathematics) A set of equations involving the same variables, which are to be solved simultaneously.
   3. (music) A set of staves linked by a brace that indicate instruments or sounds that are to be played simultaneously.
   4. (physiology) A set of body organs having a particular function.

      the digestive system  the nervous system

   5. (psychiatry) A set of alters, or the multiple who contains them.
   6. (astronomy) A system in which two or more objects are bound to each other by gravity.

      There are eight planets in the solar system.

   7. (philosophy) A comprehensive and logically organized set of propositions or philosophical beliefs.
   8. (derogatory) Preceded by the word the: the mainstream culture, controlled by the elites or government of a state, or a combination of them, seen as oppressive to the individual.
   9. (RPG) A set of rules for a tabletop roleplaying game.
2. A method or way of organizing or planning.

   Followers should have a system to follow that works in their interests, not against them.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, “In which Fortune Seems to have been in a Better Humour with Jones than We have hitherto Seen Her”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC ↗, book VIII, page 253 ↗:

     But ſo Matters fell out, and ſo I muſt relate them; and if any Reader is ſhocked at their appearing unnatural, I cannot help it. I must remind ſuch Persons, that I am not writing a Syſtem, but a Hiſtory, and I am not obliged to reconcile every Matter to the received Notions concerning Truth and Nature.

   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC ↗, pages 13–14 ↗:

     As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.

• French: système
• German: System, Ordnung, Verbund
• Italian: sistema
• Portuguese: sistema
• Russian: систе́ма
• Spanish: sistema

• Portuguese: sistema
• Russian: систе́ма

• Russian: систе́ма

• German: Akkolade

• French: système
• Italian: sistema
• Portuguese: sistema
• Russian: систе́ма
• Spanish: sistema

• Portuguese: sistema

• German: System
• Portuguese: sistema
• Russian: систе́ма