Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to commerce or trade: Pertaining to the activities, practices, or spirit of buying and selling goods.
   • Profit-oriented; commercial: Characterized by a primary interest in financial gain or business advantage.
   • Relating to mercantilism: Of or pertaining to the historical economic theory or system that emphasized national wealth through trade surpluses and government regulation of commerce.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The city's growth was driven by its mercantile interests.
  • He had a sharp, mercantile mind, always spotting a business opportunity.
  • The mercantile policies of the 17th century favored exports over imports.

Advanced Usage

• "mercantile spirit": An attitude focused on trade and profit-making.
  • The mercantile spirit of the era fueled exploration and colonization.
• "mercantile law": The body of law that governs business and commercial transactions.
  • She specialized in mercantile law, advising companies on trade contracts.

Variants and Related Words

• Mercantilism (n): The economic theory or system prevalent in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century that advocated for a positive balance of trade.
  • The country's economy was based on the principles of mercantilism.
• Mercantilist (adj/n): Relating to mercantilism; a proponent of mercantilism.
  • The mercantilist policies were designed to accumulate gold and silver.

Synonyms

• Commercial: Engaged in or relating to commerce.
• Trading: Involved in the business of buying and selling.
• Business: Pertaining to the practice of making one's living through trade.

Related Phrases

• Mercantile agency: A historical term for a business that provided credit information about companies.
  • The bank consulted a mercantile agency before approving the large loan.
• Mercantile exchange: A market or exchange for trading commodities.
  • Prices for grain were set at the mercantile exchange.

Adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of trade or traders
   • the mercantile North was forging ahead- Van Wyck Brooks
2. profit oriented
   • a commercial book
   • preached a mercantile and militant patriotism- John Buchan
   • a mercenary enterprise
   • a moneymaking business
3. of or relating to the economic system of mercantilism
   • mercantile theories
   • mercantile system