mutual Hear it!

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

mutual Related Forms
mu′·tu·al′·ity (-al′ə tē) noun pl. -·ties mu′·tu·ally adverb
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

mutual Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • respect: Only mutual respect, on BOTH sides, will remove cultural fears.
  • understanding: Thus from the outset the question of mutual understanding is posed.
  • recognition: Our mutual recognition of the respective powers of our objects, however, is a struggle.
  • trust: To encourage a sense of mutual trust, they must ensure that the partners.
  • consent: By mutual consent the machine was abandoned in the hole of its own creation.
  • fund: What that means for mutual funds, who knows?

Modifying Another Word

  • fully: It is also described as ' fully mutual ' - meaning that all the members are tenants, and all the tenants are members.
  • only: Only mutual respect, on BOTH sides, will remove cultural fears.
  • apparently: Consequently, Potter's multiculturalist diagnosis - apparently mutual respect will solve our crisis - carries little cinematic weight.
  • obviously: And obviously mutual receptions bring most benefit because then both parties gain from each other's strength.
  • enough: But will there be enough mutual interest to develop a community of interest.... and is that the best way of thinking about sharing ideas?

Used with adjective complement

  • become: There was much discussion and the feeling became mutual until two mountaineers had their blood up and felt irresistible!
  • provide: The Laboratory Group will provide Mutual with analytical chemistry and stability services for revenue of more than $ 1.5m per annum.
  • have: We have Mutual Exchange registers in our reception which anyone can come in and view between 9.00am and 5.00pm.
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)