Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Mercenary has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a person hired to fight for another country than their own
"The general was wary of hiring mercenary troops from abroad, fearing they might switch sides if the payment ran out."
One motivated by gain, especially monetary.
"The mercenary joined the army not out of loyalty to his country, but simply for the high pay offered in the contract."
marked by materialism
"His mercenary attitude toward friendship meant he would drop anyone who couldn't offer him a financial reward."
profit oriented
"a commercial book"
"preached a mercantile and militant patriotism"
"a mercenary enterprise"
"a moneymaking business"
Motivated by private gain.
"He joined the expedition not out of patriotism, but as a mercenary seeking only the gold they promised to find."