and/or

American

[and-awr] / ˈændˈɔr /

conjunction

(used to imply that either or both of the things mentioned may be affected or involved).

insurance covering fire and/or wind damage.

and/or British

conjunction

(coordinating) used to join terms when either one or the other or both is indicated

passports and/or other means of identification

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

and/or Idioms

Both or either of two options. For example, His use of copyrighted material shows that the writer is careless and/or dishonest. This idiom originated in legal terminology of the mid-1800s.

Usage

The combination and/or is used primarily in business and legal writing: All dwellings and/or other structures on the property are included in the contract. Because of these business and legal associations, some object to the use of this combination in general writing, where it occasionally occurs: She spends much of her leisure time entertaining and/or traveling. In such writing, either and or or is usually adequate. If a greater distinction is needed, another phrasing is available: Would you like cream or sugar, or both?

Many people think that and/or is only acceptable in legal and commercial contexts. In other contexts, it is better to use or both: some alcoholics lose their jobs or their driving licences or both (not their jobs and/or their driving licences )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While this incident does not meet the legal definition of a mass shooting, officials say the investigation is treating the incident as possible terrorism — defined by the FBI as “violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”

From Salon

Yet, as proof that they remained seated, Leah, Maggie and/or Kate joined hands with the others around the table.

From Literature

Books promoted as Maggie and/or Kate’s memoirs were ghost-written by others.

From Literature

There is also the chance that the U.S. takes extreme steps in regard to Latin America and/or Iran.

From Barron's

You could be asked for probate documents, a letter from the executor and/or a death certificate to confirm this cash is from a legal source.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023