adj. 1 money-oriented, grasping, greedy, acquisitive, covetous, predatory, avaricious, venal, Colloq money-grubbing She objected that the 'financial world' ought to be renamed the 'mercenary world' 2 venal, bribable, corrupt, bought, Colloq US on the take They found themselves a mercenary judge and the indictment was quashed
n. 3 hireling, legionnaire, soldier of fortune The highly trained task force was made up entirely of mercenaries