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Definition of "mutualism" [mu•tu•al•ism]

  • An association between organisms of two different species in which each member benefits. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "mutualism" in a sentence
  • "The meaning of the word mutualism has, in recently years, been extended from its original meaning in classical ecology."
  • "If you look at a great eco-system like a choral community you find a very complex community of individuals which co-operate together and work together in mutualism, or what we call symbiosis."
  • "One such route is via the idea of mutualism, which gave rise to the great friendly society, mutual assurance society, credit union and co-operative movements."