mutual

Imagine two friends always helping each other out. That is a mutual relationship. It means something is shared between two people, groups, or things, and it goes both ways. Think of an agreement where both sides accept the same plan; that is a mutual understanding. Mutual can also describe feelings: if you and another person feel the same way about each other, the feeling is mutual. You might also have mutual friends with someone, meaning you both know the same people.

The word mutual describes a relationship, feeling, or arrangement that is shared between two or more people, groups, or things. Usually, it suggests that both sides are involved in the same way or give and receive something in return. Think of two people helping each other, or two groups agreeing on the same plan: in both cases, the connection is mutual.

You will often see mutual when people talk about shared benefits or shared understanding. A mutual agreement is one that both sides accept. Mutual respect means each person respects the other. Mutual feelings means both people feel the same way about each other. A mutual friend is a person known by both people.

Beyond personal relationships, mutual can also be used in more formal or technical contexts. In biology, for example, two species may have a relationship in which each helps the other survive. In finance, a "mutual fund" is a pool of investments shared by many investors, and a "mutual insurance company" is owned by its policyholders.

The word comes from the Latin mutuus, meaning "reciprocal" or "done in exchange." That history matches the main idea of the word today: something mutual is shared, common to both sides, or felt in the same way by each side.