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?

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

How to use and/or in a sentence

But Elsa and Andor had remained behind close beside the shrine.
A Bride of the Plains | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
And Elsa has given her father and mother the slip, and joined Andor outside the barn.
A Bride of the Plains | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Andor with a sigh of heartbroken disappointment now turned to go into the inn.
A Bride of the Plains | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
And in truth, never had man so desperate a longing to kill as Andor had at this moment.
A Bride of the Plains | Baroness Emmuska Orczy
She came running out of the room, and as she reached the door she called to Andor.
A Bride of the Plains | Baroness Emmuska Orczy

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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