hireling

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhaɪəlɪŋ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈhaɪrlɪŋ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(hīər′ling)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hire•ling /ˈhaɪrlɪŋ/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a person who works merely for pay.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hire•ling  (hīər′ling),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person who works only for pay, esp. in a menial or boring job, with little or no concern for the value of the work.

adj. 
  1. serving for pay only.
  2. venal;
    mercenary.
  • late Middle English hirlyng, Old English hȳrling. See hire, -ling1 bef. 1000
    1. menial, minion, flunky, lackey, retainer.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hireling /ˈhaɪəlɪŋ/ n
  1. derogatory a person who works only for money, esp one paid to do something unpleasant
Etymology: Old English hӯrling; related to Dutch huurling; see hire, -ling1
'hireling' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
coolie - Hessian - ling - menial - mercenary - pensionary - pensioner - underling

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