# mutual

/ˈmjutʃuəɫ/ (US) · /mjˈuːtʃuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mutual
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. shared feelings or actions

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe a feeling or action that two people have for each other.

For teachers: denoting a feeling, action, or relationship that is reciprocal between two or more parties.

- The two companies ended the partnership by mutual agreement.
- The respect between the two rival scientists was mutual, despite their long-standing disagreements over experimental methodology.

### 2. shared friends or interests

adjective · CEFR B2

shared by two or more people, like a friend you both know.

For teachers: held in common by two or more parties; frequently used in the collocation 'mutual friend'.

- We met at a party through a mutual friend from university.
- The investigation revealed that the two suspects had several mutual acquaintances in the local shipping industry.

### 3. owned by members

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

owned by the people who use the service, rather than by outside shareholders.

For teachers: relating to a financial institution or insurance company owned by its members or policyholders rather than by outside shareholders.

- A mutual insurance company is owned by the people it insures.
- The building society voted to remain a mutual organisation rather than converting into a public limited company.

### 4. social media connection

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

someone on social media who follows you, and you follow them back.

For teachers: a person with whom one has a reciprocal following relationship on a social media platform.

- I saw one of my mutuals posted about the concert last night.
- The artist often interacts with their mutuals on the platform to build a stronger sense of community among fellow creators.

### 5. financial institution

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a company, like a bank or insurance firm, owned by its members.

For teachers: a mutual organisation, such as a building society or insurance company.

- Many small banks in the region are still run as mutuals.
- The regulatory framework for mutuals differs significantly from that governing traditional commercial banks with external investors.

## Examples

- The two companies reached a mutual agreement.
- They decided to end their relationship by mutual consent after realizing they wanted different things.
- The success of the partnership relied on mutual respect and a shared vision for the future of the technology sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.