mercantile

adjective

mer·​can·​tile ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl 

-ˌtī(-ə)l

1

: of or relating to merchants or trading

mercantile families

mercantile businesses

2

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of mercantilism

mercantile system

Examples of mercantile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s hard-nosed approach signals a more mercantile approach to Ukraine, which could complicate efforts to rebuild the country. —Grady McGregor, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

With this and a variety of more mercantile motives in mind, the U.S. made a series of military interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025

But the work is reborn whenever Robert Lesser shuffles in as Morry the tailor, whose compassion for Fender overrides his mercantile sense. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Downstairs, the lobby was packed with members of the mercantile South Asian community of Bohras, who were also part of the Shiite fold. —Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian, from mercante merchant, from Latin mercant-, mercans, from present participle of mercari to trade — more at market

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mercantile

• campanile
• chrysotile
• domicil
• domicile
• neuropil
• nonpareil
• percentile
• peristyle
• reconcile
• thermopile
• aisle
• bile

Kids Definition

mercantile

adjective

mer·​can·​tile ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl 

-ˌtīl

: of or relating to merchants, trade, or commerce

mercantile businesses