mercenary

Meanings

Noun

• One motivated by gain, especially monetary.
• 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 primary motivation is private gain.
• One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.

Adjective

• Motivated by private gain.

Related

Similar words

• greedy, venal
• hired gun

Narrower meaning words

• condottiere, freelance, gallowglass, Landsknecht, lansquenet, Mamertine, routier, turcopole

Origin

• Borrowed from Latin mercēnārius ("hired for money"), from mercēs.