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.
You have wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, long-term care insurance, organized records for your executor, and mutually agreed-upon beneficiary designations.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The two parties "mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect" earlier this week, with the 43-year-old Defoe having been in charge for just four months and six league games.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
A CPF is a mutually agreed plan between the bank and a client country outlining development priorities for a multi-year period.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Diplomats are in a tough spot given the mutually exclusive demands of the U.S. and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 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
Definitions 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.
