mutually

American  

[myoo-choo-uh-lee] / ˈmyu tʃu ə li /

adverb

1. in a way that is shared or reciprocal.

   Please call to set up an appointment at a mutually agreeable time.

   There are significant differences between the two organizations, but they are mutually supportive.

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Other Word Forms

• nonmutually adverb
• quasi-mutually adverb
• transmutually adverb
• unmutually adverb

Etymology

Origin of mutually

mutual ( def. ) + -ly

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."

Example Sentences

But while these two groups’ specific aims may seem mutually incompatible, both share a love of Crusader imagery and ideas.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 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

Manager Gennaro Gattuso and Italy have agreed to "mutually terminate" his contract after their failure to qualify for a third successive World Cup.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The U.S. and Europe should enhance economic ties to protect themselves mutually against supply-chain vulnerabilities and should double down on our collective technological edge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Bessie stooped; we mutually embraced, and I followed her into the house quite comforted.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• commonly
• jointly