soldier of fortune
soldier of fortune — noun
1. a person who works as a soldier for any group, army, or political organization t
a person who works as a soldier for any group, army, or political organization that pays them, rather than fighting out of loyalty to their own country or beliefs
During the civil war, several soldiers of fortune were hired to train the local fighters.
passive construction: were hired to train
Amani's uncle was a soldier of fortune who worked for three different armies across Africa.
The foreign government was accused of hiring soldiers of fortune to guard its diamond mines.
Andrew met a soldier of fortune at the market who just returned from a war.
International law makes clear rules about soldiers of fortune in times of war.
- mercenary
the more common and direct term; 'soldier of fortune' sounds slightly more romantic or old-fashioned
- hired gun
informal, often used for a shooter or enforcer in a criminal context
- private military contractor
modern official term for those working for private military companies
- patriot
someone who fights out of loyalty to their own country, not for pay
常見錯誤
2. a person who travels to different countries seeking military work, drawn by the
a person who travels to different countries seeking military work, drawn by the promise of excitement, personal profit, or a sense of adventure rather than political loyalty
The old soldier of fortune had stories of battlefields from Southeast Asia to South America.
geographical range: from [region] to [region]
Sirin's novel follows a soldier of fortune searching for lost treasure in a jungle.
Tomás met a soldier of fortune at the port who offered to join them.
Kian's grandfather was a soldier of fortune who never stayed in one place for long.
Bilal read about a soldier of fortune he once met in a desert town.
- adventurer
broader term; an adventurer may not be a soldier at all
- freebooter
historical/archaic, refers to pirates or plunderers
- condottiero
historical term for leaders of mercenary bands in Renaissance Italy
用法筆記
This older, more romantic sense is common in adventure novels, films, and historical accounts, whereas the modern news sense ('mercenary') is the usual meaning in everyday English.