Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for mercantile

mercantile

[mur-kuhn-teel, -tahyl, -til]

adjective

  1. of or relating to merchants or trade; commercial.

  2. engaged in trade or commerce.

    a mercantile nation.

  3. Economics.,  of or relating to the mercantile system.



mercantile

/ ˈmɜːkənˌtaɪl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of trade or traders; commercial

  2. of or relating to mercantilism

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • nonmercantile adjective
  • quasi-mercantile adjective
  • unmercantile adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercantile1

1635–45; < French < Italian: pertaining to merchants, equivalent to mercant ( e ) merchant (< Latin mercant-, stem of mercāns buyer, noun use of present participle of mercārī to buy) + -ile -ile
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercantile1

C17: from French, from Italian, from mercante merchant
Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also thought that these free trade deals would essentially be corrupted by the people who make the deal, which he called the mercantile system.

Read more on Salon

The stage for his artistic blossoming was set in 1482, when he left the rich mercantile city of Florence for the cruder, more bumptious northern city of Milan.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The case was filed at Madrid’s mercantile courts.

Read more on Seattle Times

Now, archaeologists are suggesting a more mercantile explanation, thanks to the discovery of hundreds of additional Roman-style structures seen in declassified U.S. spy satellite photos.

Read more on Science Magazine

In March, state prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of corruption in sports, fraudulent management, and falsification of mercantile documentation.

Read more on Seattle Times

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Mercalli scalemercantile agency