What does mercenarily mean?
Mercenarily means in a way that is driven chiefly by money or personal gain rather than loyalty, principle, or concern for others. The word is strongly evaluative and is often used to describe actions by politicians, businesspeople, soldiers, or institutions whose apparent support for a cause appears motivated chiefly by profit or advantage. Saying that someone acted mercenarily implies that benefit was the decisive consideration and that important ethical or personal obligations were disregarded. Although the term can describe conduct in a literal commercial sense, it usually carries a more accusatory tone than neutral words such as pragmatically or profitably. It derives from mercenary, which in turn comes from the Latin word for wages or reward. The related forms mercantile, merchant, and commerce preserve the same broad historical association with trade and payment.
adverbIn a mercenary or excessively materialistic manner, especially by serving for money rather than principle or personal loyalty.
- In a way that is characterized by a willingness to serve or cooperate only for personal or financial gain, especially when this disregards loyalty, principles, or others' interests.
"The company acted mercenarily when it abandoned loyal employees as soon as they were no longer profitable."
"They accepted the proposal mercenarily, caring only about the payment it offered."
"The senator defended the policy but was accused of supporting it mercenarily because of contracts held by his family."
The word mercenarily comes from the same Latin root for wages and trade that gave us merchant, commerce, and mercantile.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mercenarily come from?
Mercenarily was formed in the 19th century from mercenary and the adverbial suffix -ly. Mercenary comes from Latin mercēnārius, meaning hired or serving for reward, ultimately associated with merces, wages or payment, and mercari, to trade. The same Latin roots also produced cognates including mercantile, merchant, and commerce.
Related word forms
How mercenarily is actually used
The adverb is usually critical or disapproving. It suggests that someone's conduct is governed chiefly by money or immediate advantage rather than duty, principle, loyalty, or concern for the common good.