mercenary
/ˈmɜːrsəneri/
Definition
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army or private security group, typically motivated primarily by financial gain rather than political or ideological loyalty.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'mercennarius' (one who works for wages), which stems from 'merces' meaning 'reward' or 'wages'. It entered Middle English through the Old French 'mercenaire' to describe individuals who fight strictly for pay.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a security coordinator for a presidential candidate who previously worked as a soldier for hire in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the candidate's controversial and potentially dangerous associations.
Before and After Georgescu. The 2024-25 Romanian Presidential Elections from a 2026 perspective
Read the full article ↗Warsaw Institute