mutually exclusive

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Word: Mutually Exclusive

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: "Mutually exclusive" describes two or more things that cannot be true or happen at the same time. If one thing is true, the other must be false.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "mutually exclusive" to explain situations where two ideas, events, or conditions cannot coexist.
• It is often used in discussions involving choices, theories, or conditions.

Examples:

1. Simple Example: "You can either go to the party or stay home; those options are mutually exclusive."
2. Advanced Example: "In statistics, the outcomes of rolling a die are mutually exclusive; if you roll a 4, you cannot roll a 2 at the same time."

Word Variants:

• Mutual (adjective): Shared by two or more parties.
• Exclusivity (noun): The state of being exclusive; the quality of being limited to a particular group.

Different Meanings:

• In a broader context, "exclusive" can mean limited to a particular person or group (like an exclusive club) rather than always referring to the idea of being mutually exclusive.

Synonyms:

• Alternative (when talking about choices)
• Incompatible (when referring to ideas or theories)
• Contradictory (when one statement negates another)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "mutually exclusive" is a specific term, you can use phrases that convey a similar idea: - "You can't have your cake and eat it too." (This idiom implies that you cannot enjoy two desirable but contradictory options at the same time.)

Summary:

When you hear or use "mutually exclusive," remember that it describes choices or conditions that cannot both happen or be true at the same time.

Academic

Adjective

1. unable to be both true at the same time

Synonyms

• contradictory