A mercenary is a soldier who is paid to fight by a country or group that they do not belong to.
Synonyms: hireling, freelance [history], soldier of fortune, condottiere [history] More Synonyms of mercenary
2. adjective
If you describe someone as mercenary, you are criticizing them because you think that they are only interested in the money that they can get from a particular person or situation.
[disapproval]
More Synonyms of mercenary
mercenary in British English
(ˈmɜːsɪnərɪ, -sɪnrɪ)
adjective
1.
influenced by greed or desire for gain
2.
of or relating to a mercenary or mercenaries
nounWord forms: plural-naries
3.
a person hired to fight for a foreign army, etc
4. rare
any person who works solely for pay
Derived forms
mercenarily (ˈmercenarily)
adverb
mercenariness (ˈmercenariness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin mercēnārius, from mercēs wages
mercenary in American English
(ˈmɜrsəˌnɛri)
adjective
1.
working or done for payment only; motivated by a desire for money or other gain; venal; greedy
2.
designating a soldier serving for pay in a foreign army; hired
nounWord forms: pluralˈmerceˌnaries
3.
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
4.
any person who will do anything for money; hireling
Derived forms
mercenarily (ˈmerceˌnarily)
adverb
mercenariness (ˈmerceˌnariness)
noun
Word origin
L mercenarius < merces, pay, wages, akin to merx: see market
Examples of 'mercenary' in a sentence
mercenary
What we don't want is a foreign mercenary.
The Sun (2016)
These people were mercenaries mostly recruited from the ranks of soldiers who had served in the first world war.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Employment of foreign mercenaries is forbidden.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
This helps to explain why it was a common English practice to hire foreign mercenaries in wartime.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
It brought existing units up to strength, it raised new units and it hired foreign mercenaries.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
During the civil war he was blamed for organising killings in Benghazi and recruiting foreign mercenaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The film lifted with the arrival of a comical bunch of partly British mercenaries.
The Sun (2008)
Britain's propensity to rely on foreign mercenaries when they sent forces to the continent reached its peak in the middle of the eighteenth century.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
He is a South African mercenary and one of my best friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why can't we nurture home-grown players rather than throwing open our national league to foreign mercenaries?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He has on purpose interspersed the English and Scots with the foreign troops and mercenaries.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Another is for Gulf nations to pay Western mercenaries.
The Sun (2011)
The British mercenaries were backed by the Saudis.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
I had met British mercenaries before.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Instead, there is a management view that the players are mercenaries, people who are there to collect a cheque.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You don't want mercenaries... to pay over the odds for players not willing to give their all for the club.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
THE wife of a British mercenary accused of an African coup plot yesterday told of her fears.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
mercenary
British English: mercenary NOUN
A mercenary is a soldier who is paid to fight by a country or group that they do not belong to.
...the recruitment of foreign mercenaries.
American English: mercenary
Brazilian Portuguese: mercenário
Chinese: 雇佣兵
European Spanish: mercenario
French: mercenaire
German: Söldner
Italian: mercenario
Japanese: 傭兵
Korean: 용병
European Portuguese: mercenário
Latin American Spanish: mercenario
British English: mercenary ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as mercenary, you are criticizing them because you think that they are only interested in the money that they can get from a particular person or situation.
I hate to sound mercenary', he said, 'but am I getting paid to be in this play of yours?'
American English: mercenary
Brazilian Portuguese: mercenário
Chinese: 图利的
European Spanish: interesado
French: intéressé
German: geldgierig
Italian: venale
Japanese: 報酬目当ての
Korean: 오로지 돈 버는 것에만 관심이 있는
European Portuguese: mercenário
Latin American Spanish: interesado
Chinese translation of 'mercenary'
mercenary
(ˈməːsɪnərɪ)
n(c)
(= soldier) 雇(僱)佣(傭)兵 (gùyōngbīng) (名, míng)
adj
(pej)[person]唯利是图(圖)的 (wéi lì shì tú de)
(noun)
Definition
a soldier who fights for a foreign army for money
In the film he plays a brutish, trigger-happy mercenary.
Synonyms
hireling
freelance (history)
soldier of fortune
condottiere (history)
free companion (history)
1 (adjective)
Definition
motivated by greed or the desire for gain
Despite his mercenary motives, he is not a cynic.
Synonyms
greedy
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big pay rises.
grasping
She is a grasping and manipulative young woman.
acquisitive
We live in an acquisitive society.
venal
avaricious
I sacrificed my career so that my avaricious brother could succeed.
covetous
His sports car was attracting covetous stares.
money-grubbing (informal)
The main character is portrayed as a money-grubbing parasite.
bribable
Opposites
liberal
,
generous
,
benevolent
,
idealistic
,
altruistic
,
philanthropic
,
unselfish
,
munificent
2 (adjective)
Definition
of or relating to a mercenary or mercenaries
The mercenary soldier is not a valued creature.
Synonyms
hired
paid
bought
venal
venal and totally corrupt politicians
Seegrasping
Nearby words of
mercenary
menu
mephitic
mercantile
mercenary
merchandise
merchandising
merchant
Synonyms of 'mercenary'
mercenary
Explore 'mercenary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grasping
Definition
greedy for money
She is a grasping and manipulative young woman.
Synonyms
greedy,
acquisitive,
rapacious,
mean,
selfish,
stingy,
penny-pinching (informal),
venal,
miserly,
avaricious,
niggardly,
covetous,
tightfisted,
close-fisted,
tight-arsed (taboo, slang),
usurious,
tight-assed (US, taboo, slang),
snoep (South Africa, informal),
tight as a duck's arse (taboo, slang)
in the sense of money-grubbing
Definition
seeking greedily to obtain money
The main character is portrayed as a money-grubbing parasite.
Synonyms
avaricious,
grasping,
greedy,
mercenary,
acquisitive,
rapacious,
money-grabbing,
grabby (informal)
in the sense of venal
Definition
willing to accept bribes in return for acting dishonestly