mercantile

adjective mer·can·tile \ ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl , -ˌtī(-ə)l \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of mercantile

1 : of or relating to merchants or trading

mercantile families

mercantile businesses

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

mercantile system

See mercantile defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of mercantile from the Web

These hints of private realms beckon most alluringly from the Tiber River-adjacent Regola neighborhood, known since the Renaissance as the center for mercantile activities from plate-making to leather-stitching.

— chiara barzini, New York Times, "The Secret Atelier Behind a Roman Boutique," 16 May 2018
The Hassayampa was built in 1927 by a consortium of leading citizens who thought their mineral-rich mountain town needed an elegant hotel to anchor its banking and mercantile efforts.

— charles fleming, latimes.com, "Hiking and history are on display on a weekend escape to Prescott, Ariz.," 26 Apr. 2018
While Ree's been growing her blog into a lifestyle empire, which now includes a Food Network show, mercantile, line at Walmart, and the new Boarding House hotel, Hyacinth has been by her side through it all.

— jessica leigh mattern, Country Living, "Ree Drummond and Her BFF Hyacinth Kane's Friendship Story Is So Sweet," 19 Apr. 2018
Like the victims of 9/11, the slaves of New York were actors in the great mercantile drama that daily animates the city.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "New York City Would Really Rather Not Talk About Its Slavery-Loving Past," 15 Apr. 2015
The initiatives quickly spread to Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Saks & Company, Bloomingdale’s, B. Altman & Co., Jordan Marsh and other shopping emporiums whose names have passed into mercantile heaven.

— ralph blumenthal and sandra roff, New York Times, "Attention 1916 Shoppers: The Doctor Is In," 4 Mar. 2018
The historic city center of Bikan, a 10-minute walk from the station, is a time warp to the Edo era, when its namesake river formed an important cornerstone of Japanese mercantile trails; the area is still car-free.

— Time, "4 Places to Visit in Japan Before Everyone Else Does," 17 Jan. 2018
The mercantile power arrayed against political democracy.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Why Do the Koch Brothers Want a Convention of States?," 8 Jan. 2018
Here in Surat, a Gujarati metropolis with hundreds of years of storied mercantile history, Mr. Modi’s currency policy hit like a sledgehammer.

— jeffrey gettleman and hari kumar, New York Times, "India’s Economic Woes Are Piercing Modi’s Aura of Invulnerability," 6 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mercantile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mercantile

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1638

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

MERCANTILE Defined for English Language Learners

mercantile

adjective

Definition of mercantile for English Language Learners

: of or relating to the business of buying and selling products to earn money : of or relating to trade or merchants

MERCANTILE Defined for Kids

mercantile

adjective mer·can·tile \ ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl , -ˌtīl \

Definition of mercantile for Students

: of or relating to merchants or trade

a rich mercantile family

Learn More about mercantile

See words that rhyme with mercantile Spanish Central: Translation of mercantile Nglish: Translation of mercantile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mercantile for Arabic speakers

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