Engineering English
Mutex
Electronics Engineering · Software Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A mutex is a synchronization object that provides mutually exclusive access to a resource, ensuring that only one task can enter a critical section at a time. It often includes features like priority inheritance to avoid inversion.
Example in context
“The developer used a mutex with priority inheritance to prevent unbounded priority inversion in the control task.”
“Geliştirici, kontrol görevinde sınırsız öncelik tersine çevrilmesini önlemek için öncelik mirası olan bir mutex kullandı.”
Where engineers use it
Mutexes are essential in RTOS-based firmware to protect shared data structures. Engineers must be aware of deadlock and starvation when using mutexes, and they often choose mutex over semaphore for resource locking.
Synonyms: mutual exclusion lock, lock
In Software Engineering
A mutex is a synchronization primitive used to prevent multiple threads from simultaneously accessing a shared resource. It ensures mutual exclusion by allowing only one thread to lock it at a time.
“Before modifying the shared buffer, the thread must acquire the mutex to prevent a data race.”
Practice: can you use “Mutex” at work?
Two tasks require exclusive access to a shared variable. Show how to implement a mutex lock and unlock, and explain what happens if the mutex is not released.
Show a model answer
“Acquire the mutex before modifying the global sensor data structure.”
“Mutex” in 21 languages
| English | Mutex |
|---|---|
| Turkish | mutex |
| French | mutex |
| German | Mutex |
| Spanish | mutex |
| Chinese | 互斥锁 |
| Arabic | مُتكَ |
| Portuguese | mutex |
| Russian | мьютекс |
| Japanese | ミューテックス |
| Italian | mutex |
| Vietnamese | mutex |
| Hindi | म्यूटेक्स |
| Thai | มิวเท็กซ์ |
| Indonesian | mutex |
| Korean | 뮤텍스 |
| Bengali | মিউটেক্স |
| Dutch | mutex |
| Swedish | mutex |
| Finnish | mutex |
| Ukrainian | м'ютекс |
Frequently asked questions
What does Mutex mean in engineering?
A mutex is a synchronization object that provides mutually exclusive access to a resource, ensuring that only one task can enter a critical section at a time. It often includes features like priority inheritance to avoid inversion. In Electronics Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Mutex?
Mutex is pronounced /ˈmjuːtɛks/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Mutex used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The developer used a mutex with priority inheritance to prevent unbounded priority inversion in the control task.”
This entry is one of 7,806 terms in the Engineering English iOS app — with quizzes, spaced repetition and pronunciation checking.
Get the app on the App Store