and/or

[ and-awr ]

conjunction

(used to imply that either or both of the things mentioned may be affected or involved): insurance covering fire and/or wind damage.

usage note For and/or

The combination and/or is used primarily in business and legal writing: All dwellings and/or other structures on the property are included in the contract. Because of these business and legal associations, some object to the use of this combination in general writing, where it occasionally occurs: She spends much of her leisure time entertaining and/or traveling. In such writing, either and or or is usually adequate. If a greater distinction is needed, another phrasing is available: Would you like cream or sugar, or both?

Words Nearby and/or

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use and/or in a sentence

As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
In Defense of Blasphemy | Michael Tomasky | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Winners are solely responsible for any and all federal, state, and local taxes and/or fees that may be incurred.
The Daily Beast Company LLC The New Alphas Sweepstakes Official Rules | | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Winners will be solely responsible for any and all local, state, and federal taxes, and/or fees that may be incurred.
The Daily Beast Company LLC The New Alphas Sweepstakes Official Rules | | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Why aren't you as handsome and/or Canadian as Justin Bieber?
Justin Bieber Isn’t Even 21, Yet Makes More Money Than Meryl Streep | Amy Zimmerman | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This band is different from the rock groups that go in for charismatic lighting and sing of love and/or sex.
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession | Pauline Kael | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Retouch along the blade edges often resulted in serrations and/or beveling.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. Cambron
Blade edges are usually straight but may be excurvate and may be beveled on one edge and/or serrated.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. Cambron
The blade is excurvate and may be slightly beveled on one side of each face and/or serrated.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. Cambron
Surface collections from sites in this area indicate a late Archaic and/or Woodland association.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types | James W. Cambron
You certainly started something here, Acne and/or Psoriasis.
Greener Than You Think | Ward Moore

British Dictionary definitions for and/or

and/or

conjunction

(coordinating) used to join terms when either one or the other or both is indicated: passports and/or other means of identification

usage For and/or

Many people think that and/or is only acceptable in legal and commercial contexts. In other contexts, it is better to use or both: some alcoholics lose their jobs or their driving licences or both (not their jobs and/or their driving licences)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with and/or

and/or

Both or either of two options. For example, His use of copyrighted material shows that the writer is careless and/or dishonest. This idiom originated in legal terminology of the mid-1800s.

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