mutual agreement

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   a situation in which two or more people or groups all agree to the same thing

   Grammar: Often used after 'by' or 'in': by mutual agreement, in mutual agreement.

   Patterns

   • by mutual agreement
   • reach mutual agreement
   • a mutual agreement between someone and someone

   The two companies ended their partnership by mutual agreement.

   After long talks, the neighbors reached a mutual agreement about the fence.

   The contract can be canceled by mutual agreement at any time.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseformal

   a formal arrangement or decision that everyone involved has accepted

   Grammar: Often appears in legal or business writing as a countable phrase: a mutual agreement.

   Patterns

   • sign a mutual agreement
   • a mutual agreement on something
   • a mutual agreement to do something

   They signed a mutual agreement to share the costs equally.

   A mutual agreement was reached to postpone the meeting.

   The union and management announced a mutual agreement on pay.

Common combinations

by mutual agreement

The band split up by mutual agreement.

reach mutual agreement

The two sides finally reached mutual agreement.

mutual agreement between

There is a mutual agreement between the school and the parents.

in mutual agreement

They nodded in mutual agreement.

a mutual agreement on

We have a mutual agreement on how to divide the work.

Synonyms and how they differ

consensus

Consensus means general agreement in a group, often without a formal vote; mutual agreement stresses that all sides actively agree.

accord

Accord is more formal and often means an official agreement between countries or organizations.

understanding

An understanding can be informal and not written down, while a mutual agreement is usually clearer and more definite.

Opposites

Word family

mutually adverb

in a way that is shared by two or more people

agree verb

to have the same opinion or to say yes to something

agreement noun

an arrangement or a state of agreeing

Commonly confused: mutual agreement or mutual consent?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “mutual agreement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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