Mercenary

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈmɜrsəˌnɛri/

Definitions of mercenary

noun a person primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics

Example Sentences

A1 The mercenary was hired to protect the village from bandits.

A2 The mercenary demanded a large sum of money for his services in the war.

B1 The mercenary's loyalty was always questionable, as he would switch sides for a better offer.

B2 The mercenary was known for his ruthless tactics on the battlefield.

C1 The mercenary's reputation preceded him, as he was feared by both allies and enemies alike.

C2 The mercenary's code of ethics was often debated, as he would do anything for the right price.

adjective motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain

Example Sentences

A1 The mercenary soldier fought in exchange for money.

A2 The mercenary group was hired to protect the village.

B1 The mercenary contractor was known for taking on dangerous missions.

B2 The mercenary tactics employed by the army were controversial.

C1 The mercenary approach to warfare raised ethical concerns.

C2 The mercenary company operated in multiple countries, offering their services to the highest bidder.

Examples of mercenary in a Sentence

formal The mercenary was hired to protect the wealthy merchant during his travels.

informal The mercenary is always up for a good fight.

slang I heard there's a group of mercenaries causing trouble in the city.

figurative She was accused of being a mercenary for switching sides so easily.

Grammatical Forms of mercenary

past tense

mercenaryed

plural

mercenaries

comparative

more mercenary

superlative

most mercenary

present tense

mercenary

future tense

will be mercenary

perfect tense

have been mercenary

continuous tense

is being mercenary

singular

mercenary

positive degree

mercenary

infinitive

to be mercenary

gerund

mercenarying

participle

mercenaryed

Origin and Evolution of mercenary

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'mercenary' originated from the Latin word 'mercennarius', meaning a hireling or one who works for hire.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'mercenary' has evolved to refer to a professional soldier who fights for monetary gain rather than loyalty to a country or cause.