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hireling

[ hahyuhr-ling ]
/ ˈhaɪər lɪŋ /
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See synonyms for hireling on Thesaurus.com
noun
a person who works only for pay, especially in a menial or boring job, with little or no concern for the value of the work.
adjective
serving for pay only.
venal; mercenary.
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Origin of hireling

First recorded before 1000; late Middle English hirlyng, Old English hȳrling; see hire, -ling1

Words nearby hireling

hircus, hire, hired gun, hired hand, hiree, hireling, hire out, hire-purchase, hire-purchase system, hi-res, Hiri Motu
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to hireling

aide, employee, laborer, worker

How to use hireling in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hireling

hireling
/ (ˈhaɪəlɪŋ) /
noun
derogatory a person who works only for money, esp one paid to do something unpleasant

Word Origin for hireling

Old English hÓ¯rling; related to Dutch huurling; see hire, -ling 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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