Mercenary

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmɜː(ɹ).sÉ™n.É™.ɹi/, /ˈmɜː(ɹ)ËŒsnÌ©.ɹi/
• US enPR: mûrʹsÉ™-nÄ•r'Ä“, IPA: /ˈmɜːrsəˌnÉ›ri/

Origin

From Latin mercēnārius ("mercenary, hireling"), from merces ("reward, wages, price").

Full definition of mercenary

Adjective

1. Motivated by private gain.
• DrydenFor God forbid I should my papers blot
  With mercenary lines, with servile pen.

Synonyms

• (motivated by private gain) greedy, venal

Noun

1. A person employed to fight in an armed conflict who is not a member of the state or military group for which they are fighting and whose prime or sole motivation is private gain.