Mercenary vs. Missionary — What's the Difference?

A mercenary, sometimes known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, who takes part in military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rather than for political interests.

A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to promote their faith or perform ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.In the Latin translation of the Bible, Jesus Christ uses the word when sending the disciples to preach the gospel in his name. The term is most commonly used for Christian missions, but can be used for any creed or ideology.The word mission originates from 1598 when Jesuits, the members of the Society of Jesus sent members abroad, derived from the Latin missionem (nom.

Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.

A person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country.

Hired for service in a foreign army.

Relating to or characteristic of a missionary or a religious mission

One who serves or works merely for monetary gain; a hireling.

One who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country.

A professional soldier hired for service in a foreign army.

One who attempts to persuade or convert others to a particular program, doctrine, or set of principles; a propagandist.

(archaic) One motivated by gain, especially monetary.

Of or relating to missions or missionaries.

A person employed to fight in an armed conflict who is not a member of the state or military group for which they are fighting and whose primary motivation is private gain.

Engaged in the activities of a mission or missionary.

(figuratively) One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.

Tending to propagandize or use insistent persuasion

Motivated by private gain.

One who is sent on a mission.

Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

(religion) A person who travels attempting to spread a religion or creed.

Moved primarily by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish.

(pejorative) A religious messenger.

One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.

(uncountable) The missionary position for sexual intercourse.

A person hired to fight for another country than their own

Sexual intercourse in the missionary position.

Marked by materialism

Relating to a (religious) mission.

Used of soldiers hired by a foreign army

One who is sent on a mission; especially, one sent to propagate religion.

Profit oriented;

Of or pertaining to missions; as, a missionary meeting; a missionary fund.

Someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program

Someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country