mercenary
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.”
How to use mercenary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hired fighter, or (more broadly) anyone acting purely for money.
Word forms
more mercenary comparative, mercenaries plural, most mercenary superlative
Fill the gap
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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
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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.