# system

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɪstəm/ · frequency rank #249

## Definitions
1. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
2. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
3. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
4. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
5. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
6. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
7. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
8. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
9. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
10. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
11. A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
12. A method or way of organizing or planning.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **systems** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/system-vs-systems)
- **systemic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/system-vs-systemic)
- **stem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stem-vs-system)
- **sister** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sister-vs-system)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ssystem`, `ssytem`, `sysetm`, `sysstem`, `systemm`, `systme`, `systtem`, `sytsem`, `syystem`, `ysstem`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/system