mutualism

mu·tu·al·ism
M3U1T1U1A1L1I1S1M3
UK/ˈmjuː.tʃʊ.əˌlɪz.m̩/US/ˈmju.t͡ʃu.əˌlɪz.m̩/

noun

Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.

Similar
symbiosis
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounmutualism (countable and uncountable, plural mutualisms)

plural mutualisms

  1. countableuncountablebiologyAny interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.
  2. countableuncountableeconomicsAn economic theory and anarchist school of thought that advocates a society where each person might possess a means of production, either individually or collectively, with trade representing equivalent amounts of labor in the free market.
  3. countableuncountablepsychometricsThe psychometric theory that general intelligence emerges from the interaction between specific cognitive abilities.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other

Similar
symbiosis
Broader
mutualityinterdependenceinterdependency
Also see
symbiosis

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From mutual + -ism. Compare French mutualisme and Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish mutualismo.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 互利共生, 互惠共生
  • 互利共生 (hùlì-gòngshēng)interaction between two species that benefits both
  • 互惠共生 (hùhuì-gòngshēng)interaction between two species that benefits both
  • 相利共生 (xiānglì-gòngshēng)interaction between two species that benefits both
  • 互助論 /互助论 (hùzhù lùn)economic theory
Finnish mutualismi
  • mutualismiinteraction between two species that benefits both
French mutualisme
  • mutualismeinteraction between two species that benefits both
Indonesian mutualisme
  • mutualismeinteraction between two species that benefits both
Italian mutualismo
  • mutualismointeraction between two species that benefits both
Japanese 相利共生
  • 相利共生 (sōrikyōsei)interaction between two species that benefits both
Malay kesalingan
  • kesalinganinteraction between two species that benefits both
Portuguese mutualismo
  • mutualismointeraction between two species that benefits both
Romanian mutualism
  • mutualisminteraction between two species that benefits both
Spanish mutualismo
  • mutualismointeraction between two species that benefits both
Swedish mutualism
  • mutualisminteraction between two species that benefits both
Cite this entry
APA

mutualism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutualism

MLA

“mutualism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutualism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mutualism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutualism.

Source: mutualism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.