Mercenary - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Mercenary : adj
1: marked by materialism [syn: materialistic, worldly-minded]
2: used of soldiers hired by a foreign army [syn: mercenary(a), freelance(a)]
3: profit oriented; "a commercial book"; "preached a mercantile and militant patriotism"- John Buchan; "a mercenary enterprise"; "a moneymaking business" [syn: mercantile, moneymaking(a)] (noun)

1: a person hired to fight for another country than their own [syn: soldier of fortune]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Mercenary : \Mer"ce*na*ry\, a. [OE. mercenarie, F. mercenaire, fr. L. mercenarius, fr. merces wages, reward. See Mercy.] 1. Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

2. Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. --Shak.

For God forbid I should my papers blot With mercenary lines, with servile pen. --Daniel.

Syn: See Venal.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Mercenary : \Mer"ce*na*ry\, n.; pl. Mercenaries. One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service. --Milman.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)