VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

mutuality

noun·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/ˌmjuːtʃuˈælɪti/
US/ˌmjutʃuˈælɪti/

Meanings

  1. noununcountableformal

    The quality of a relationship in which both sides give and receive in a similar way, so that feelings or benefits flow both ways.

    Grammar: Usually uncountable and abstract: a relationship built on mutuality.

    Patterns

    • mutuality between people
    • mutuality of something

    Good friendships are built on mutuality, not one-sided favors.

    The treaty was based on mutuality of interest.

    She valued the mutuality of the partnership.

  2. noununcountableformal

    The state of depending on one another, as in shared responsibilities among members of a group.

    Grammar: Used about communities and teams: a sense of mutuality.

    Patterns

    • a sense of mutuality

    The village had a strong sense of mutuality, with neighbors helping each other.

    Cooperation and mutuality kept the team together.

    The mutuality of the arrangement meant that both farms benefited.

Common combinations

sense of mutuality
The class developed a sense of mutuality over the year.
mutuality of interest
Their mutuality of interest led to a business deal.
build mutuality
Honest talk helps build mutuality.
lack of mutuality
A lack of mutuality doomed the friendship.
relationship of mutuality
They had a relationship of mutuality and respect.

Synonyms and how they differ

reciprocity
Reciprocity stresses the exchange of favors or treatment in return, whereas mutuality stresses shared feeling and balance.
interdependence
Interdependence means that each side needs the other, while mutuality only needs both sides to share or contribute equally.
solidarity
Solidarity is about unity and support within a group, often in a struggle, while mutuality describes a two-way relationship.
common ground
Common ground is an informal phrase for shared interests, whereas mutuality is a more abstract noun for the shared relationship.

Opposites

one-sidednessimbalance

Word family

mutual adjective
felt or done by each toward the other
mutually adverb
in a way shared by both sides
mutualism noun
a relationship where two species benefit each other

Commonly confused: mutuality or mutual?

mutuality vs mutual

Mutual is the adjective for something felt or shared by both sides, as in mutual respect. Mutuality is the abstract noun for that quality.

Practice

A therapist praises a couple for the mutuality in their marriage. What is she praising?

Make it your own

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

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words