soldier of fortune: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal or Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “soldier of fortune” mean?
A professional mercenary who hires himself out for military service, especially to a foreign country, for pay.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A professional mercenary who hires himself out for military service, especially to a foreign country, for pay.
Figuratively, a person who seeks adventure, change, or profit through risky or unconventional activities, often moving opportunistically between roles or organisations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in both varieties. 'Mercenary' is a more common direct synonym in both.
Connotations
In both, it can evoke classic adventure novels or historical figures. Slightly more likely to be used figuratively in modern AmE.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in AmE, likely due to cultural references in film and pulp fiction.
Grammar
How to Use “soldier of fortune” in a Sentence
[NP] worked as a soldier of fortuneHe was a typical soldier of fortuneThey hired a soldier of fortune to [VP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “soldier of fortune” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He soldiered-of-fortuned his way across Africa. (Very rare, non-standard)
American English
- (No standard verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- He had a soldier-of-fortune look about him. (Attributive noun used adjectivally)
American English
- She lived a soldier-of-fortune lifestyle, moving from one conflict zone to another.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figuratively, to describe an executive who moves between companies for high pay with no loyalty. 'He's a corporate soldier of fortune, here for the signing bonus.'
Academic
Used in historical or political science texts discussing private military actors or historical mercenaries.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used to describe someone who travels the world taking odd, adventurous jobs.
Technical
Not a technical term in modern military doctrine, where 'Private Military Contractor (PMC)' or 'mercenary' are used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “soldier of fortune”
- Using it to refer to any brave soldier (it implies a mercenary motive).
- Confusing it with 'man of fortune' (a wealthy man).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its core meaning. 'Soldier of fortune' is a more literary or euphemistic term, often with a more romanticised, adventurous connotation, while 'mercenary' is more direct and clinical.
It can be used neutrally or with a sense of admiration for independence and adventure, especially in historical or fictional contexts. However, it often carries a negative connotation of amorality and greed.
No, it is a low-frequency term. 'Mercenary' or 'private military contractor' are more common in serious discussion. 'Soldier of fortune' is found more in literature, film titles, and historical writing.
Yes. It can describe anyone who moves opportunistically between roles, organisations, or projects primarily for personal gain, such as a CEO or a consultant with no long-term allegiance.
A professional mercenary who hires himself out for military service, especially to a foreign country, for pay.
Soldier of fortune is usually formal or literary, historical in register.
Soldier of fortune: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊl.dʒər əv ˈfɔː.tʃuːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊl.dʒɚ əv ˈfɔːr.tʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live like a soldier of fortune”
- “Have a soldier-of-fortune attitude”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FORTUNE in gold coins being paid to a SOLDIER who will fight for whoever pays him. The soldier is 'of' (seeking) that fortune.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS WAR / A CAREER IS A CAMPAIGN. A person who treats employment as a series of battles for profit.
Practice
Quiz
In a modern business context, calling someone a 'soldier of fortune' most likely implies what?