Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not mercenary; not motivated by or seeking financial gain: Describes a person, action, or attitude that is not influenced by the desire for money or personal profit. The primary motivation is altruistic, principled, or based on other non-financial values.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Her unmercenary dedication to the charity was truly inspiring. (Her motivation was clearly not financial gain.)
  • He provided legal advice on an unmercenary basis, simply to help the community. (He did not charge for his services.)
  • The artist's unmercenary approach meant she often gave her paintings away. (She was not driven by the potential to sell her work.)

Advanced Usage

• "unmercenary service": work or help provided without expectation of payment.
  • The clinic relies on the unmercenary service of volunteer doctors.
• "unmercenary motives": reasons for action that are not financial.
  • We trusted his advice because we knew his motives were unmercenary.

Variants and Related Words

• Unmercenariness (n, rare): The quality or state of being unmercenary.
  • The unmercenariness of his life was a lesson to us all.

Synonyms

• Altruistic: Showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others.
• Disinterested: Not influenced by considerations of personal advantage; impartial.
• Nonprofit: Not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit.
• Unpaid: (When referring to work) Done without receiving payment.

Antonyms

• Mercenary: Primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.
• Venal: Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt.
• Grasping: Greedy; avaricious.

Adjective

1. not mercenary; not influenced by financial gains