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

In their London’s merchant companies, the government drew attention to the natural advantages of Ulster: beef, pork, fish, and game in abundance; timber for shipping; butter, cheese; hides and tallow; ports ready for mercantile traffic with England, Scotland, Spain and Newfoundland. —Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025

The Biennale, staged in these same spaces, carried forward that mercantile energy -- but with art as its new currency. —Dada Jovanovic, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025

With a long history as Japan's mercantile heart and major port of call, Osaka is dense and delightfully in your face. —Melinda Joe, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 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

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

Kids Definition

mercantile

adjective

mer·​can·​tile ˈmər-kən-ˌtēl 

-ˌtīl

: of or relating to merchants, trade, or commerce

mercantile businesses