what is a mercenary?
A mercenary is the legacy term used to refer to overseas security consultants or contractors who perform military-like work for pay in the private sector. These individuals are typically trained soldiers (or trained in support of security personnel) that work for a private company or non-governmental agency.
mercenary (plural mercenaries) ( 1 archaic) One motivated by gain, especially monetary. 2  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. 2004, Matthew Trundle, Greek Mercenaries: From the Late Archaic Period to Alexander: If a mercenary died, that was one fewer man to pay.