mercenary

Meaning

Noun

1. 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. One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.

Adj

Motivated by private gain.

Hyphenated as

mer‧ce‧na‧ry

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɜː.sə.nə.ɹi/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin mercēnārius (“hired for money”), from mercēs (“reward, wages, price”).

Sentences

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