mercenary
MUR-suh-nuh-ree
Mercenary (noun) means a soldier who fights for pay rather than out of loyalty to a country or cause. Example: “The warlord's army was made up largely of foreign mercenaries.”
noun
1
A soldier who fights for pay rather than out of loyalty to a country or cause.
"The warlord's army was made up largely of foreign mercenaries."
2
Someone motivated chiefly by money or personal profit.
"Critics called the lawyer a mercenary, chasing the biggest payout rather than justice."
adj
1
Motivated purely by money or personal gain.
"His mercenary approach to friendship put a lot of people off."
How to use mercenary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hired fighter, or (more broadly) anyone acting purely for money.
Common pairings
hired mercenary
mercenary motives
purely mercenary
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Word forms
- Plural
- mercenaries
- Comparative
- more mercenary
- Superlative
- most mercenary
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Critics called the lawyer a _____, chasing the biggest payout rather than justice.
Etymology
From Latin mercēnārius ("hired for money"), from mercēs ("wages, reward").
Synonyms
View more →
commercial
materialistic
freelance
mercantile
moneymaking
adventurer
bravo
condottiere
filibuster
freebooter
free companion
hired gun
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mercenary
See all rhymes for 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.
