mutually
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mutually
Explanation
When you do something in cooperation with another person, the two of you do it mutually. You and your sister might, for example, mutually decide to skip the family reunion. You can use the adverb mutually to describe an action or a connection that you share with someone. If you have a mutually competitive relationship with your best friend, it means that both of you feel a sense of rivalry. And when a decision is mutually beneficial to everyone in town, it helps every single person equally. The root word is the Latin mutuus, which means "reciprocal, or done in exchange."
Vocabulary lists containing mutually
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
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Dear Martin
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The Treaty of Paris (1783)
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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.
ITV has reported that on Monday evening he had "mutually agreed" to resign from Reform UK, citing "personal reasons" and would be continuing as an independent councillor.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
To select global sites, Google looks for "proximity to customers and users, access to talent, potential for new clean energy and opportunities to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities", Smith said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
The initial phase of contract talks still would have union and county representatives seeking to hammer out a mutually beneficial deal, with a presumption that both sides would negotiate in good faith.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The agreement is mutually non-exclusive, with each company retaining development and commercial rights and no provisions around royalties, milestones, or revenue- or profit-sharing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
As a woman who pursued sport professionally in hijab, I proved that being a modest Muslim woman and being active were not mutually exclusive.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
