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Definitions

mercenary

[mur-suh-ner-ee] / ˈmɜr səˌnɛr i /


NOUN
person who fights, kills for money
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He resurfaced later on social-media posts from the front lines, standing next to a Russian wearing the military patch of the Wagner mercenary group.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

A 26-year-old basketball mercenary at his fifth school, Baker-Mazara is the average age of an NBA player.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

Last November, the South African government said it had received distress calls from the group of men who had joined mercenary forces in the conflict.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

The source identified the security crew as Aleksander T., 34, and Maksim D., 40, adding that the latter was a former police officer who had worked for Russian mercenary group Wagner.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

But not considering such troops reliable, he turned to mercenary forces, judging them to be less dangerous, and he hired the Orsini and the Vitelli.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli




Vocabulary lists containing mercenary