soldier of fortune
Gun for hire
A soldier of fortune is a mercenary—someone who fights for pay rather than patriotism or principle.
The term carries romantic connotations of adventure and swashbuckling, unlike the more clinical *mercenary*: He spent his twenties as a soldier of fortune in African bush wars.
By extension, anyone who pursues risky ventures for profit or excitement.
Paid killer for clients
- contractorHired construction professional
- hired gunPaid outside specialist
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
commando · operative · legionnaire · paramilitary · bounty hunter · bodyguard · enforcer · sniper
One who investigates unfamiliar regions
- voyagerLong-distance journey taker
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- globetrotterFrequent international voyager
wanderer · nomad · seafarer · thrill-seeker · trekker · rover · scout · wayfarer
gun-for-hire
Paid killer for clients
- contractorHired construction professional
- hired gunPaid outside specialist
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
privateer · commando · operative · legionnaire · paramilitary · bounty hunter · bodyguard · enforcer · sniper · saboteur
explorer
One who investigates unfamiliar regions
- voyagerLong-distance journey taker
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
globetrotter · wanderer · nomad · seafarer · thrill-seeker · trekker · rover · scout · wayfarer · drifter
- hired fightersmercenary, gun for hire, hired gun, sellsword, condottiere
- Mercenariesmercenaries, mercenary, hired guns, hired gun, sellswords
- soldiersinfantryman, private, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
soldier of fortunepatriot
Devoted country supporter
volunteer · freedom fighter · idealist · true believer · conscript
soldier of fortuneenlisted soldier
Non-officer in armed forces
commissioned officer · servicemember · GI · conscript · serviceman
soldier of fortunehomebody
One preferring domestic life
civilian · office worker · bureaucrat · nine-to-fiver · stay-at-home
soldier, fortune, fortunate, soldiers, unfortunate, misfortune, fortunes, fortuitous, soldiering