1. A person who serves in a foreign army for pay: This is the most common meaning. A mercenary is a soldier who fights for a country or group that they are not a citizen of, primarily motivated by money. They are not necessarily loyal to the cause they are fighting for.
2. Motivated primarily by financial gain: This meaning is often used in a more figurative sense. Someone who is described as "mercenary" in this way is seen as being greedy and only interested in getting something for themselves, even if it means being unethical or exploiting others.
Here are some examples:
* "The king hired a group of mercenaries to defend his castle." (This is the first meaning of the word.)
* "Her motives were purely mercenary – she only married him for his money." (This is the second meaning of the word.)
It's important to note that the word "mercenary" can have negative connotations, implying that the person is motivated by greed and is lacking in loyalty or principle.