and/or

[ 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.

usage note for and/or

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?

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH and/or

and and/or nor or1 (see usage note at and) (see usage note at the current entry)

Words nearby and/or

and how!, and so forth, and the like, and then some, and thereby hangs a tale, and/or, andalusia, andalusite, andaman, andaman and nicobar islands, andaman islands

British Dictionary definitions for and/or

and/or

conjunction

(coordinating) used to join terms when either one or the other or both is indicated passports and/or other means of identification

usage for and/or

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)

Idioms and Phrases with and/or

and/or

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.