soldiers of fortune
Combat for cash
Soldiers of fortune are mercenaries—fighters who sell their military services to foreign armies, private interests, or anyone willing to pay.
The term carries romantic overtones from adventure novels and films, suggesting daring exploits in exotic locations, though the reality is often grimmer.
The mining company hired soldiers of fortune to protect its operations in the conflict zone.
The phrase can extend metaphorically to anyone who pursues risky ventures primarily for money.
- legionnairesMembers of a legion
- wild geeseUndomesticated migratory waterfowl
- mercsPaid soldiers, informally
- dogs of warHired military fighters
- mercenariesSoldiers paid to fight
contractor · gunman · hired muscle · Varangian Guard · freelancer · paramilitary · hired gun · warlords · Hessians · freebooter · commando · Gurkhas · gun-for-hire · rifleman · guerrilla · private military contractors · private army · sniper
- Mercenariesmercenaries, mercenary, hired guns, hired gun, sellswords
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- seekersseekers, seeker, treasure hunters, searcher, gold seekers
- Militiascitizen militia, colonial militia, colonial militias, territorial defense, citizen army
soldiers of fortunepatriots
Devoted homeland supporters
volunteers · citizen soldiers · conscripts · freedom fighters · true believers
soldiers of fortuneloyalists
Faithful to established authority
lifers · home guard · die-hards · regular army · national guard
soldiers of fortuneenlisted soldiers
Military personnel below officers
regular army · standing army · commissioned officers · armed forces personnel · state troops
soldier, soldiers, soldiering, soldiered, soldierly, fortune, fortunes, fortunate, fortunately