mutually exclusive adjective
: related in such a way that each thing makes the other thing impossible : not able to be true at the same time or to exist together
▪ War and peace are mutually exclusive. [=war and peace cannot exist at the same time] ▪ mutually exclusive events — often used after not to describe things that can exist together or at the same time ▪ In a marriage, love and conflict are not mutually exclusive. [=both love and conflict can exist in a marriage at the same time]
▪ War and peace are mutually exclusive. [=war and peace cannot exist at the same time] ▪ mutually exclusive events — often used after not to describe things that can exist together or at the same time ▪ In a marriage, love and conflict are not mutually exclusive. [=both love and conflict can exist in a marriage at the same time]
