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Mercenary: meaning, definitions and examples

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mercenary

 

[ ˈmɜːrsəˌneri ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

person

A person primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.

Synonyms

greedy, profit-oriented, self-interested

Examples of usage

  • He was accused of being a mercenary who only cared about profit.
  • The mercenaries were hired to protect the business interests of the company.
Context #2 | Noun

military

A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

Synonyms

freelance soldier, hired gun, soldier of fortune

Examples of usage

  • The mercenary was known for his combat skills and loyalty to the highest bidder.
  • The mercenaries were recruited to fight in the civil war.
Context #3 | Adjective

motive

Motivated by a desire for money or material gain rather than by ethical principles.

Synonyms

greedy, money-minded, self-serving

Examples of usage

  • His decision to join the project was purely mercenary.
  • She had a mercenary attitude towards her job, always looking for ways to increase her income.

Translations

Translations of the word "mercenary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mercenário

🇮🇳 भाड़े का सैनिक

🇩🇪 Söldner

🇮🇩 tentara bayaran

🇺🇦 найманець

🇵🇱 najemnik

🇯🇵 傭兵 (ようへい)

🇫🇷 mercenaire

🇪🇸 mercenario

🇹🇷 paralı asker

🇰🇷 용병 (yongbyeong)

🇸🇦 مرتزق (murtaziq)

🇨🇿 žoldák

🇸🇰 žoldnier

🇨🇳 雇佣兵 (gùyōngbīng)

🇸🇮 plačanec

🇮🇸 hermaður fyrir laun

🇰🇿 жалдамалы жауынгер

🇬🇪 მოიჯარე (moijare)

🇦🇿 muqaviləli əsgər

🇲🇽 mercenario

Etymology

The word 'mercenary' originated from the Latin word 'mercennarius', meaning 'one who works for hire'. In ancient times, mercenaries were often hired by foreign powers to fight in wars. The concept of mercenaries has existed for centuries, with mercenaries playing significant roles in various conflicts throughout history. The reputation of mercenaries has been mixed, with some being praised for their combat skills while others criticized for their lack of loyalty and ethical standards.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,733, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.