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mutual definition

mu·tual (myo̵̅o̅′c̸ho̵̅o̅ əl)

adjective

    1. done, felt, etc. by each of two or more for or toward the other or others; reciprocal mutual admiration
    2. of, or having the same relationship toward, each other or one another mutual enemies
  2. shared in common; joint our mutual friend
  3. designating or of a type of insurance in which the policyholders elect the directors, share in the profits, and agree to indemnify one another against loss

Etymology: LME mutuall < MFr mutuel < L mutuus, mutual, reciprocal < mutare, to change, exchange: see miss

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

mutual Synonyms

mutual

modif.

  1. Reciprocal

    reciprocal, interchangeable, correlative, complementary, done reciprocally, acting reciprocally, convertible, interchanged, responded to, reciprocated, requited, respective, two-sided, bilateral, give-and-take, interactive; see also exchangeable.

    Antonyms unreciprocated, one-sided, noninterchangeable.

  2. Common

    joint, shared, belonging equally to; see common 5.

mutual may imply an interchange of feeling between two persons mutual admiration, mutual enemies, or a sharing jointly with others the mutual efforts of a group; reciprocal implies a return in kind or degree by each of two sides of what is given or demonstrated by the other a reciprocal trade agreement or may refer to any inversely corresponding relationship the reciprocal functions of two machine parts; common simply implies being shared by others or by all the members of a group our common interests


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

mutual Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • respect: Only mutual respect, on BOTH sides, will remove cultural fears.

Modifying Another Word

  • fully: It is also described as ' fully mutual ' - meaning that all the members are tenants, and all the tenants are members.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: There was much discussion and the feeling became mutual until two mountaineers had their blood up and felt irresistible!
mutual usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

mutual quotes

I believe the intellectual life of the whole of western society is increasingly being split into two polar groups† Literary intellectuals at one poleöat the other scientists, and as the most representative, the physical scientists. Between the two a gulf of mutual incomprehension.

-Snow, C(harles) P(ercy), 1st Baron

It will be helpful in our mutual objective to allow every man in America to look hisneighbour inthe faceand see a manönot a colour.

-Stevenson, Adlai E(wing)

mutual quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"mutual." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/mutual>

APA Style

mutual. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/mutual

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