mercenary
UK: /ˈmɜː.sən.ər.i/ | US: /ˈmɜːr.sən.er.i/
n. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
adj. motivated solely by a desire for monetary gain
The word mercenary traces back to Latin mercenarius, meaning "hired for pay." It originally described soldiers who fought for wages rather than loyalty to a cause. Over time, the term expanded to describe anyone (or anything) driven primarily by financial gain, reflecting the transactional nature of the root merc-. The suffix -enary solidifies its adjectival form, linking it to the concept of payment.
The warlord relied on mercenaries to bolster his army.
Her mercenary attitude made her unpopular among idealistic colleagues.
Critics accused the corporation of mercenary motives in exploiting the crisis.
Medieval mercenaries often switched sides for higher pay.
The film’s villain was a mercenary assassin with no moral code.