Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a close, long-term biological relationship between two different species — whichever of them benefits or suffers.
Full definition of Symbiosis →:: COMPARE ::
SymbiosisvsMutualism
The short answer
Mutualism is the subset of symbiosis where all parties benefit. Symbiosis is the parent category and is outcome-neutral. If you specifically mean everyone wins, say mutualism — that's exactly what the word is for, and it exists because symbiosis doesn't do that job.
Side by side
| Aspect | Symbiosis | Mutualism |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Any | Both benefit |
| Includes parasitism | Yes | No |
| Category | Parent | Subtype |
| Coined | 1879 | — |
What each one means
Mutualism
The contrast above sets out how Mutualism differs from Symbiosis on the points that actually matter.