Origin: Latin suffix -al
Mutual has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
A mutual fund.
"I decided to park my money in a low-cost mutual fund to grow my savings over time."
"They decided to share their mutual fondness for jazz music."
Usage: Use "mutual" only as an adjective to describe something shared or reciprocal; it cannot function as a noun on its own. When referring to the investment vehicle, you must say "a mutual fund."
concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return
"reciprocal aid"
"reciprocal trade"
"mutual respect"
"reciprocal privileges at other clubs"
Having the same relationship, each to each other.
"The two countries signed a mutual defense treaty so that an attack on one would be considered an attack on both."
In plain English: Mutual means shared by two or more people who both feel or do something toward each other.
"They have a mutual respect for each other's opinions."
Usage: Use mutual to describe feelings or actions that are shared equally by two parties, such as mutual respect between friends. Avoid using it when referring to a single person's own thoughts or possessions.
The word mutual comes from the Middle French term mutuel, which was borrowed from the Latin mūtuus. It entered English with its original meaning of something shared or reciprocal between parties.