mercenary

Meaning

Noun

1. (archaic) One motivated by gain, especially monetary.
2. A person employed to fight in an armed conflict who is not a member of the state or military group for which they are fighting and whose primary motivation is private gain.
3. (figuratively) One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.

Adj

Motivated by personal gain.

Synonyms

hireling

calculating

free-lance

self-interested

mercantile

soldier of fortune

freelance

moneymaking

materialistic

profitable

paid

stipendiary

venal

corrupt

worldly-minded

monetary

moneygrubber

paying

pecuniary

pensioner

productive

ready money

rent

salable

salaried

selfish

shrewd

venality

vendible

wage-earner

avaricious

professional soldier

careful

cash

💸

closefisted

commercial

corruption

dishonorable

economic

for hire

gainful

hired

interested

laborer

legionnaire

marketable

Translations

mercenaire

mercenario

Söldner

mercenario

mercenário

mercenari

huurling

μισθοφόρος

مرتزق

mercenarius

käuflich

huursoldaat

berechnend

soldato di ventura

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɜː.sə.nə.ɹi/

Etymology

From Middle English mercenarye (“someone paid to work, hireling”), from Latin mercēnārius (“hired for money”), from mercēs (“reward, wages, price”).

Sentences

" Surrender is not an option ", the mercenary asserted .