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
Several excellent chapters cover the growth of British economic interests in the area during the nineteenth century, notably through the efforts of the mercantile National African Company.
—
Max Siollun, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
Art & commerce Designers this season appeared to sit in two camps: Those who adopted a more mercantile mindset — perhaps in response to concerns around another recession — and those who seemingly through caution to the wind and chose art over commerce.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN, 22 Feb. 2023
The community, which had been famous for its mercantile abundance, was now marked by deprivation.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2023
The century after 1485, when Henry VII took the crown from Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, would see England break away from the church in Rome and grow into a mercantile powerhouse.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2022
Four years later, residents from a neighboring community, known then as Willow Dell, began integrating into Senoia and the first buildings (a mercantile factory and a Methodist Episcopal church led by Baggarly), were erected in Senoia.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2022
That Shop, at 138 Main St. in Somers, back in January, and have created a space that has a little of everything, akin to a mercantile or general store.
—Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2022
Clarence Clifton Brown hauled his candy-making equipment here from Ohio, and in 1906 opened a chocolate shop at the mercantile crossroads of 7th and Hill streets downtown.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022
The mercantile store and rail depot shuttered with the onset of the Great Depression.
—Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Apr. 2022
See More
Max Siollun, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
Art & commerce Designers this season appeared to sit in two camps: Those who adopted a more mercantile mindset — perhaps in response to concerns around another recession — and those who seemingly through caution to the wind and chose art over commerce.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN, 22 Feb. 2023
The community, which had been famous for its mercantile abundance, was now marked by deprivation.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2023
The century after 1485, when Henry VII took the crown from Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, would see England break away from the church in Rome and grow into a mercantile powerhouse.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2022
Four years later, residents from a neighboring community, known then as Willow Dell, began integrating into Senoia and the first buildings (a mercantile factory and a Methodist Episcopal church led by Baggarly), were erected in Senoia.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2022
That Shop, at 138 Main St. in Somers, back in January, and have created a space that has a little of everything, akin to a mercantile or general store.
—Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2022
Clarence Clifton Brown hauled his candy-making equipment here from Ohio, and in 1906 opened a chocolate shop at the mercantile crossroads of 7th and Hill streets downtown.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022
The mercantile store and rail depot shuttered with the onset of the Great Depression.
—Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Apr. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mercantile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near mercantile
Cite this Entry
“Mercantile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercantile. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
mercantile
adjective
mer·can·tile
ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl
-ˌtīl
: of or relating to merchants, trade, or commerce
mercantile businesses
More from Merriam-Webster on mercantile
Nglish: Translation of mercantile for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mercantile for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share