mutual

[ myoo-choo-uhl ]

adjective

1. possessed, experienced, performed, etc., by each of two or more with respect to the other; reciprocal:

   to have mutual respect.

2. having the same relation each toward the other:

   to be mutual enemies.

3. of or relating to each of two or more; held in common; shared:

   mutual interests.

4. having or pertaining to a form of corporate organization in which there are no stockholders, and in which profits, losses, expenses, etc., are shared by members in proportion to the business each transacts with the company: mutual insurance.

   a mutual company.

noun

1. Informal. a mutual fund.

mutual

/ ˈmjuːtʃʊəl; ˌmjuːtjʊˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. experienced or expressed by each of two or more people or groups about the other; reciprocal

   mutual distrust

2. common to or shared by both or all of two or more parties

   a mutual friend

   mutual interests

3. denoting an insurance company, etc, in which the policyholders share the profits and expenses and there are no shareholders

Usage

The use of mutual to mean common to or shared by two or more parties was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable. Tautologous use of mutual should be avoided: cooperation (not mutual cooperation ) between the two countries

Derived Forms

• ˈmutually, adverb
• mutuality, noun

Other Words From

• mu·tu·al·ly adverb
• non·mu·tu·al adjective
• qua·si-mu·tu·al adjective
• trans·mu·tu·al adjective
• un·mu·tu·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutual¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French mutuel, from Latin mūtu(us) “mutual, reciprocal” (equivalent to mūt(āre) “to change”; mutate ) + -uus adjective suffix) + Middle French -el (from Latin -ālis ) -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutual¹

C15: from Old French mutuel, from Latin mūtuus reciprocal (originally: borrowed); related to mūtāre to change

Synonym Study

Mutual, reciprocal agree in the idea of an exchange or balance between two or more persons or groups. Mutual indicates an exchange of a feeling, obligation, etc., between two or more people, or an interchange of some kind between persons or things: mutual esteem; in mutual agreement. Reciprocal indicates a relation in which one act, thing, feeling, etc., balances or is given in return for another: reciprocal promises or favors.

Example Sentences

The pair bonded over their mutual love of the club and the artists that played it, and Yoakam invited Steele to try writing with him.

From Los Angeles Times

Like Carl, series adviser Stephen Shore, a professor at Adelphi University, is autistic, and when he saw the first episode of the series, he couldn’t believe how much he had in common with Carl, down to their mutual love of argyle sweater vests.

From Los Angeles Times

“I separated from an Army that didn’t want me anymore. The feeling was mutual — I didn’t want this Army anymore either.”

From Los Angeles Times

A mutual friend connected him to Grant Gershon, artistic director of the Master Chorale, and Aitken proposed creating a song cycle.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a mutual scream that happens when you know you’re about to dive into something that is going to be rich in experience, but is also maybe going to test you and pull you and stretch you as an actor,” Lynch says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bilateral
• collective
• reciprocal