Hireling
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈhaɪ.ə.lɪŋ/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Hireling is a noun meaning (usually derogatory) An employee who is hired, often to perform unpleasant tasks with little independence.
Meaning
(usually derogatory) An employee who is hired, often to perform unpleasant tasks with little independence.
More Meanings
- (usually derogatory) Someone who does a job purely for money, rather than out of interest in the work itself.
- A horse for hire.
- (obsolete) A prostitute.
Example Sentences
When my poor James was in the small-pox, did I allow any hireling to nurse him?
In the afternoon they went to a neighbouring livery stables to look for hirellings.
Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? are not his dayes alſo like the dayes of an hireling?
These vain bickerings / Are spawn'd in courts by base intrigues and baser / Hirelings, who live by lies on good men's lives.
Word Forms
- hirelings
Synonyms for hireling
Depending on context, synonyms include flunky, lackey, mercenary, pensionary.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include pensionary, hackney, hack, schlepper, drudge, wage slave.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.