mercenary
[mur-suh-ner-ee]
- working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
- hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.
Show More
- a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
- any hireling.
Show More
Origin of mercenary
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
selfishunscrupulousacquisitivewarriorgraspinghirelingslavelegionnaireavariciouscorruptcovetousmiserlysordidstingyunethicalunprincipledvenalgrabbymoney-grubbingmercExamples from the Web for mercenary
Contemporary Examples
As a former agent himself, Horrigan hopes to disabuse renters of the notion that brokers are mercenary con artists.
“I did not have enough money to bribe the judge, so I decided to become a mercenary,” Mozhayev told a local reporter.
The scene ends with a Street Fighter-like battle between Captain America and a mercenary.
By mid-to-late evening, there was overwhelming evidence that Russia was using a mix of mercenary and conscript forces.
A dreamy, blue-eyed rebel is approached by a mercenary wearing a scary mask.
‘Sleepy Hollow’ Is TV’s Craziest, Most Over-the-Top New Show ... And You Should Watch ItAmy Zimmerman
October 8, 2013
Historical Examples
Is it that I am honored by having this mercenary drunkard for a husband?
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
But the most objectionable thing in the mass is its mercenary character.
Roman Catholicism in SpainAnonymous
De Launay was rich, of course, but he did not believe that mademoiselle was mercenary.
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
But let us not waste time or thought on commercial or mercenary craft.
Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The SearchlightMathew Joseph Holt
They resolved to collect bodies of mercenary troops, both infantry and horse.
HellenicaXenophon
mercenary
- influenced by greed or desire for gain
- of or relating to a mercenary or mercenaries
Show More
- a man hired to fight for a foreign army, etc
- rare any person who works solely for pay
Show More
Word Origin
C16: from Latin mercēnārius, from mercēs wages
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
Word Origin and History for mercenary
n.
late 14c., "one who works only for hire," from Old French mercenaire "mercenary, hireling" (13c.) and directly from Latin mercenarius "one who does anything for pay," literally "hired, paid," from merces (genitive mercedis) "pay, reward, wages," from merx (see market (n.)).
Show More
adj.
1530s, from mercenary (n.), or in part from Latin mercenarius "hired, paid, serving for pay."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper