mercenary
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˈmɜːrsəˌnɛri/
KK: /ˈmɜrsəˌnɛri/
adjective
Definition
Describing someone who is hired to fight for a foreign army or who acts mainly for money rather than principles.
Example
The mercenary soldiers were known for their willingness to fight for the highest bidder.
Conversation
Did you hear about that mercenary group in the news?
Yeah, it’s crazy how they’ll fight for anyone who pays them.
I can’t believe people would hire mercenary soldiers like that.
I guess for some, money is more important than loyalty.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
hired
selfish
profit-driven
Antonyms
altruistic
ethical
principled
noun
Definition
A person who is paid to fight for a foreign army or to work for money rather than loyalty or personal reasons.
Example
The mercenary fought bravely, but his true loyalty was to the highest bidder.
Conversation
Did you hear about that mercenary who went viral last week?
Yeah, I saw that! It’s crazy how much people are willing to pay for a soldier.
I know, right? It makes you think about the life choices some people make as a mercenary.
Root Explanation
Mercenary is derived from "merces" (meaning reward or pay) and the suffix "-ary" (meaning relating to or connected with). The term refers to someone who is motivated by financial gain, particularly in the context of military service.
Memory Tip
Think of someone who is 'related to' ('-ary') receiving a 'reward' ('merces') for their work — that's why a mercenary is someone who fights for pay.
Visually Confused Words
unmercenary
decenary