Word
mercenary
Phoneticsmer·ce·nary
US/ˈmɝsəˌnɛɹi/
UK/mˈɜːsənəɹi/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a professional soldier who is paid to fight for a foreign country or group. They work for money rather than for political or personal beliefs.
n. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army. Motivated primarily by financial gain rather than political allegiance or national duty.
Examples
“The king hired mercenaries to help defend the city.”
“During the conflict, the government relied on highly trained mercenaries to secure the remote oil fields.”
“The use of private mercenaries in modern warfare raises complex legal questions regarding accountability and the adherence to international humanitarian laws during armed conflicts.”
Examples
simple
“The king hired mercenaries to help defend the city.”
contextual
“During the conflict, the government relied on highly trained mercenaries to secure the remote oil fields.”
complex
“The use of private mercenaries in modern warfare raises complex legal questions regarding accountability and the adherence to international humanitarian laws during armed conflicts.”
Usage
Often carries a negative connotation of greed or lack of loyalty.
Real-World Examples
“The Houthis said they had attacked what they described as buildups, weapons and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces and “mercenaries” in al-Makha with a large number of ballistic missiles, destroying boats and weapons.” “The soldiers commonly referred to as Hessian mercenaries weren’t mercenaries by the strict definition of the term.” Etymology
From Middle English mercenarye (“someone paid to work, hireling”), from Latin mercēnārius (“hired for money”), from mercēs (“reward, wages, price”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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