Mercenary

/ˈmɜːrsəˌnɛri/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

The country employed mercenaries to bolster its defense forces.

A person primarily motivated by personal gain, especially in a context that is often considered morally questionable.

He was seen as a mercenary, willing to betray his own people for the right price.

adjective

Working or acting merely for money or other reward; greedy.

The film depicted the mercenary nature of the corporate executives.

Relating to or characteristic of a mercenary soldier.

The mercenary troops were well-trained and equipped for their missions.

From Latin 'mercenarius', from 'merces' meaning 'wages, pay'.

soldier of fortune

A person who earns money by fighting, often in foreign conflicts.

hired help

Someone employed to do work for pay, often implying a lack of commitment.

money talks

The idea that financial gain influences behavior and decisions.

hireling

A person who works purely for material reward; someone without loyalty.

vagabond

A person who wanders without a home or job, often living solely on what they can earn.

contractor

A person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor for construction.

Gunner

He's just a gunner, doing it for the money.

Money merc

You can tell he's a money merc, always chasing the highest paycheck.