mercenary
0 antonyms and opposites of mercenary, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A soldier who fights for pay rather than out of loyalty to a country or cause.
How to use mercenary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin mercēnārius ("hired for money"), from mercēs ("wages, reward").
Full origin of mercenary →Frequently asked questions
What does “mercenary” mean?
The word “mercenary” means a soldier who fights for pay rather than out of loyalty to a country or cause. In plain terms, a hired fighter, or (more broadly) anyone acting purely for money.
How do you pronounce “mercenary”?
“Mercenary” is pronounced MUR-suh-nuh-ree (/ˈmɝ.sə.ˌnɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “mercenary” in a sentence?
Here is “mercenary” used in a sentence: “Critics called the lawyer a mercenary, chasing the biggest payout rather than justice.”
What is another word for “mercenary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mercenary” include adventurer, bravo, condottiere, filibuster, freebooter and freelance.
What part of speech is “mercenary”?
Depending on how it is used, “mercenary” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mercenary” come from?
The word “mercenary” comes from Latin. From Latin mercēnārius ("hired for money"), from mercēs ("wages, reward").
Is “mercenary” a common word?
“Mercenary” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “mercenary” have?
“Mercenary” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soldier who fights for pay rather than out of loyalty to a country or cause.