common and mutual share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. common means “belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public”. mutual means “common to or shared by two or more parties”. common is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɑmən/
1.adj.belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
“for the common good”
2.adj.having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual
“the common man”
3.adj.common to or shared by two or more parties
“a common friend”
/ˈmjutʃuəl/
1.adj.common to or shared by two or more parties
“a common friend”
2.adj.concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return
“reciprocal aid”
| common | mutual | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑmən/ | /ˈmjutʃuəl/ |
| Said | KAH-muhn | MYOO-choo-uhl |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Letters | 6 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, noun | adjective |
| Senses | 10 | 2 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | common |
Full entry for common · Full entry for mutual · More comparisons