working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.
noun,pluralmer·ce·nar·ies.
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
any hireling.
Origin of mercenary
1350–1400; Middle English mercenarie<Latin mercēnnārius working for pay, hired worker, mercenary, perhaps, representing earlier *mercēd(i)nārius, equivalent to *mercēdin-, stem of *mercēdō, a by-form of mercēs, stem mercēd- payment, wage (akin to merx goods; cf. merchant) + -ārius-ary
Some of these mercenaries were basically employed knights, who lacked fiefs, and thus were paid salaries by their overlords.
History of the Crusades: Origins, Politics, and Crusaders|Dattatreya Mandal|March 23, 2020|Realm of History
His second-in-command was the marechal, who was responsible for paying the mercenaries, organizing the fighting divisions and playing his supervisory role in regards to the discipline and equipment of the army.
History of the Crusades: Origins, Politics, and Crusaders|Dattatreya Mandal|March 23, 2020|Realm of History
As a former agent himself, Horrigan hopes to disabuse renters of the notion that brokers are mercenary con artists.
From a Broken Lease, a Dream NYC Home|Lizzie Crocker|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I did not have enough money to bribe the judge, so I decided to become a mercenary,” Mozhayev told a local reporter.
The Kremlin’s Crazy Shock Troops|Oleg Shynkarenko|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The scene ends with a Street Fighter-like battle between Captain America and a mercenary.
How ‘Captain America’ Almost Got It Right but Ended Up Being a Dud|Sujay Kumar|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By mid-to-late evening, there was overwhelming evidence that Russia was using a mix of mercenary and conscript forces.
Russia Stages a Coup in Crimea|Michael Weiss|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 It|Amy Zimmerman|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If she took money from him—the mercenary, painted baggage I—why, then, she'll take it from me.
My Novel, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
John Boler was not mercenary, but this offer gave him keen delight.
A Thoughtless Yes|Helen H. Gardener
Delamere, chancellor of the exchequer, promoted in the sequel to the rank of earl of Warrington, was close and mercenary.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.|Tobias Smollett
With them the mercenary and the pecuniary are ever distinct from the religious.
Patchwork|Anna Balmer Myers
He had only two love affairs; 220 the first brought him the reputation of mercenary aims, and the second almost ruined his life.