mutual
Americanadjective
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possessed, experienced, performed, etc., by each of two or more with respect to the other; reciprocal.
to have mutual respect.
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having the same relation each toward the other.
to be mutual enemies.
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of or relating to each of two or more; held in common; shared.
mutual interests.
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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.
a mutual company.
noun
adjective
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experienced or expressed by each of two or more people or groups about the other; reciprocal
mutual distrust
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common to or shared by both or all of two or more parties
a mutual friend
mutual interests
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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
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mutual
First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French mutuel, from Latin mūtu(us) “mutual, reciprocal” (equivalent to mūt(āre) “to change”; see mutate) + -uus adjective suffix) + Middle French -el (from Latin -ālis ) -al 1
Explanation
If the feeling is mutual, both of you feel the same the way, like a mutual admiration society. Mutual means shared. In finance it is used to describe trusts or funds that pool the money of many investors to buy securities. Mutual is a word to describe something two people or groups share. Nations will engage in a policy of mutual support; co-workers make a mutual effort; two businesses reach a mutual understanding. It's a good thing, being mutual. Mutual consent means you and your partner agree to do something together, be it composting your refuse in the backyard or dressing in furry mascot costumes for kicks. If something is mutual, it's okay with everyone involved.
Vocabulary lists containing mutual
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Military-Industrial Complex" (1961)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One such lover was Chopin, whom Sand first met at the home of a mutual friend in 1836.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Kainerugaba called what happened half a century ago "a painful chapter in our history" but, he added, Uganda-Israel relations have developed into a "partnership characterised by mutual trust, respect and co-operation".
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
“There’s mutual respect there,” Davis, the former Little League star, said of Lansdell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Her estate is fairly typical — a condo, mutual funds and other assets — with an estimated value of around $1 million.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
He bade me sit, which I did, and we again expressed our mutual pleasure at our reunion, following which he asked after my fortunes, inquiring how long I had been at Norfolk.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
