mutually exclusive

American  

[myoo-choo-uh-lee ik-skloo-siv, -ziv] / ˈmju tʃu ə li ɪkˈsklu sɪv, -zɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to a situation involving two or more events, possibilities, etc., in which the occurrence of one precludes the occurrence of the other.

   mutually exclusive plans of action.

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Usage

What does mutually exclusive mean? Describing two things as mutually exclusive means that they can’t both exist, be true, or happen at the same time. In most cases, the phrase implies that one of the things prevents the other from happening or being true, or that both things prevent each other from happening or being true. Mutually exclusive is often used in negative constructions about things that are said to be not mutually exclusive—meaning they can both happen or be true at the same time. Example: Kindness and a good business sense are not mutually exclusive—it’s possible to be financially successful without being a jerk.

Etymology

Origin of mutually exclusive

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mutually exclusive

The different approaches don’t feel that far apart, or mutually exclusive even.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

It's worth bearing in mind that these four approaches above are not mutually exclusive.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

"Our results show that genetic diagnostics and functional neuroscience are not mutually exclusive areas," says Weber.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026

“We don’t see software and semis being mutually exclusive, but for many the question becomes, ‘Why bother with software if semis are going to outperform on an absolute and relative basis?’”

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 6, 2026

A 4 coming up on two of the three dice can happen in three different and mutually exclusive ways: X44, 4X4, or 44X, the X indicating a non-4.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos