You use mutual to describe a situation, feeling, or action that is experienced, felt, or done by both of two people mentioned.
The East and the West can work together for their mutual benefit and progress.
It's plain that he adores his daughter, and the feeling is mutual.
Synonyms: shared, common, joint, interactive More Synonyms of mutual
mutuallyadverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb, ADVERB before verb]
Attempts to reach a mutually agreed solution had been fruitless.
A meeting would take place at a mutually convenient time.
2. mutually exclusive
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You use mutual to describe something such as an interest which two or more people share.
They do, however, share a mutual interest in design.
We were introduced by a mutual friend.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If a building society or an insurance company has mutual status, it is not owned by shareholders but by its customers, who receive a share of the profits.
[British, business]
Britain's third-largest building society abandoned its mutual status and became abank.
mutual in British English
(ˈmjuːtʃʊəl)
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
mutuality (ˌmjuːtjʊˈælɪtɪ) or mutualness (ˈmutualness)
noun
mutually (ˈmutually)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Old French mutuel, from Latin mūtuus reciprocal (originally: borrowed); related to mūtāre to change
mutual in American English
(ˈmjutʃuəl)
adjective
1.
a.
done, felt, etc. by each of two or more for or toward the other or others; reciprocal
mutual admiration
b.
of, or having the same relationship toward, each other or one another
mutual enemies
2.
shared in common; joint
our mutual friend
3.
designating or of a type of insurance in which the policyholders elect the directors, share in the profits, and agree to indemnify one another against loss
SYNONYMY NOTE: mutual may be used for an interchange of feeling between two persons [John and Joe are mutual enemies] or may imply a sharing jointly with others [the mutual efforts of a group]; reciprocal implies a return in kind or degree by each of two sides of what is given or demonstratedby the other [a reciprocal trade agreement], or it may refer to any inversely corresponding relationship [the reciprocal functions of two machine parts]; common simply implies a being shared by others or by all the members of a group [our common interests]
Derived forms
mutuality (ˌmutuˈality) (ˈmjutʃuˈæləti)
nounWord forms: pluralˌmutuˈalities
mutually (ˈmutually)
adverb
Word origin
LME mutuall < MFr mutuel < L mutuus, mutual, reciprocal < mutare, to change, exchange: see miss1
mutual in Insurance
(myutʃuəl)
adjective
(Insurance: General)
If a savings and loan association or an insurance company has mutual status, it is owned by its customers.
Mutual companies are owned by the policyholders, while stock holders own stock insurancecompanies.
A mutual insurance company has no formal stockholders or capital stock, and is owned by itspolicyholders.
If a savings and loan association or an insurance company has mutual status, it is owned by its customers.
mutual aid society, mutual fund, mutual insurance, mutual insurer
Examples of 'mutual' in a sentence
mutual
The moon in your values chart adds a mutual respect that makes a love match work.
The Sun (2017)
The surprise yesterday was that the feeling was mutual.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We work together across many areas of mutual interest and we have that special relationship between us.
The Sun (2017)
We have lots of mutual friends and we do our holidays together.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They met through mutual friends earlier this year.
The Sun (2016)
There is a lot of mutual respect between the two that they are outsiders fighting the political establishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Parents and schools must emphasise the importance of mutual respect and tolerance and warn of the damage bullying can do.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its mutual benefits are freely and frequently acknowledged on both sides of the Atlantic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If the royal family is an admirer of his hospitality, the feeling is mutual.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She joined the company that I work for a few years ago and mutual interests drew us together.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yet a covenant is about trust and mutual recognition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were friends of mutual benefit and it worked well that way.
The Sun (2008)
It would have been nice for him to show mutual respect.
The Sun (2014)
We were introduced at a party by a mutual friend in his thirties.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We need better ways to link investors and entrepreneurs to the mutual benefit of both.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is also a way of expressing mutual respect.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
We met two and a half years ago through mutual friends.
The Sun (2013)
The mutual benefits of cooperation increase incentives to learn.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
The intent is to discuss topics of mutual interest to church planting leaders.
Christianity Today (2000)
We are in our forties and met through a mutual friend six months ago.
The Sun (2014)
And the feeling is entirely mutual.
The Sun (2016)
And perhaps the feeling is mutual.
Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005)
I am uneasy about the mutual reinforcement.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
We talk about the values of rugby, well there needs to be mutual respect here about what we are all buying into.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As a mutual society, it cannot always raise money in the same way as companies and it needs to be innovative in raising cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is it all really just a mutual self-help society for ambitious Sikhs to get ahead?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
mutual
British English: mutual /ˈmjuːtʃʊəl/ ADJECTIVE
You use mutual to describe a situation, feeling, or action that is experienced, felt, or done by both of two people mentioned.
We can work together for our mutual benefit.
American English: mutual
Arabic: مُتَبَادِلٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: mútuo
Chinese: 相互的
Croatian: uzajaman
Czech: vzájemný
Danish: gensidig
Dutch: wederzijds
European Spanish: mutuo
Finnish: molemminpuolinen
French: mutuel
German: gegenseitig
Greek: αμοιβαίος
Italian: reciproco
Japanese: 相互の
Korean: 서로의
Norwegian: gjensidig
Polish: wzajemny
European Portuguese: mútuo
Romanian: reciproc
Russian: взаимный
Latin American Spanish: mutuo
Swedish: ömsesidig
Thai: ซึ่งมีส่วนร่วมกัน
Turkish: karşılıklı
Ukrainian: спільний
Vietnamese: lẫn nhau
Chinese translation of 'mutual'
mutual
(ˈmjuːtʃuəl)
adj
(= shared)
[feeling, attraction]共有的 (gòngyǒu de)
[benefit, interest]共同的 (gòngtóng de)
a mutual friend共同的朋友 (gòngtóng de péngyou)
the feeling is mutual有同感 (yǒu tónggǎn)
(adjective)
Definition
common to or shared by two or more people
The East and West can work together for mutual benefit.
Synonyms
shared
common
They share a common language.
joint
They came to a joint decision as to where they would live.
interactive
returned
communal
The inmates ate in a communal dining room.
reciprocal
They expected a reciprocal gesture before more hostages could be freed.
interchangeable
reciprocated
correlative
requited
Usage note
Mutual is sometimes used, as in a mutual friend, to mean `common to or shared by two or more people'. This use has sometimes been frowned on in the past because it does not reflect the two-way relationship contained in the origins of the word, which comes from Latin mutuus meaning `reciprocal'. However, this usage is very common and is now generally regarded as acceptable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of common
Definition
belonging to two or more people
They share a common language.
Synonyms
shared,
collective
in the sense of communal
Definition
of a commune
The inmates ate in a communal dining room.
Synonyms
public,
shared,
general,
joint,
collective,
communistic
in the sense of joint
Definition
shared by or belonging to two or more parties
They came to a joint decision as to where they would live.
Synonyms
shared,
mutual,
collective,
communal,
united,
joined,
allied,
combined,
corporate,
concerted,
consolidated,
cooperative,
reciprocal,
collaborative
Synonyms of 'mutual'
mutual
Explore 'mutual' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of reciprocal
Definition
given or done in return
They expected a reciprocal gesture before more hostages could be freed.