Mutual Friend: Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：a shared friend (mutual friend)

mutual friend 🔊

/ˈmjuːtʃuəl frɛnd/

A friend that two or more people both know and are friends with.

Two friends introducing a mutual friend at a sunny cafe

a shared friend 🔊

➕

/ʃɛrd frɛnd/

A person who is friends with two or more individuals, thereby connecting them through a common acquaintance.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'mutuus' (reciprocal) + Old English 'freond' (lover, friend).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Mutual' means both sides share it; a 'mutual friend' is a friend you both share.

📖 Example

It was such a nice surprise when we found out we had a mutual friend who loves painting too. 🔊 It was such a nice surprise when we found out we had a mutual friend who loves painting too.

🔗 Collocations

become mutual friends – To start a friendship based on a shared acquaintance.

have a mutual friend – To share a common friend with someone else.

introduce a mutual friend – To present a shared friend to one of the involved parties.

🔄 Synonyms

common acquaintance (n.) – A person known to two or more people, though not necessarily a close friend.

shared friend (n.) – A friend that two or more people both have.

friend in common (n.) – An alternative phrasing for a mutual friend.

🚫 Antonyms

stranger (n.) – A person unknown to both individuals.

enemy (n.) – A person hostile or opposed to either party.

rival (n.) – A competitor with conflicting interests.

🌱 Derivatives

mutual friendship (n.) – The state of being mutual friends.

mutually friendly (adj.) – Characterized by reciprocal friendliness.

📖 Cultural Story

In modern social networking, 'mutual friend' often appears on platforms like Facebook to suggest connections between users, highlighting shared social circles.