mutual
mutual Lexical Profile
mutual Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Experienced, felt, or performed by each of two or more parties toward the other or others; reciprocal.
"Their long-standing partnership was built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect."
Held in common by two or more parties; shared equally.
"We first met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual acquaintance in Boston."
Denoting a financial institution, such as an insurance company or savings bank, that is owned entirely by its policyholders or depositors rather than outside shareholders.
"The credit union operates on a mutual basis, returning its annual surplus to members through lower interest rates."
• noun
A financial organization, such as an insurance company, credit union, or building society, owned by its members or policyholders rather than external shareholders.
"Several major building societies demutualized in the 1990s, though many traditional mutuals continue to thrive."
On social media platforms, a user who follows another user and is followed back by them in return.
"She posted a question online asking her mutuals for book recommendations."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditional usage guides sometimes distinguish between 'mutual' (reciprocal between two parties, as in 'mutual respect') and 'common' (shared by two or more, as in 'common interests'), though phrases like 'mutual friend' are fully established in standard English.
• Rhymes for mutual
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French mutuel, from Latin mutuus ('borrowed, lent, reciprocal'), which derives from the verb mutare ('to change or exchange').