systemic issue
noun phraseUK /sɪˈstiːmɪk ˈɪʃuː/
US /sɪˈstɛmɪk ˈɪʃuː/
A problem that is built into a whole system, not just one small part of it.
The broken pipes were a systemic issue, so fixing one leak did not stop the water.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A flaw in an organization's rules or habits that keeps causing the same trouble.
The company's systemic issue with late paychecks came from its old accounting rules.
3. A problem that affects an entire body or living thing, not just one spot.
The doctor said the rash was a systemic issue, not just a skin problem.
4. A repeated problem in a game or program caused by how the whole thing is built.
Players complained about a systemic issue that made the game crash every hour.