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

Other Words From

• non·mercan·tile adjective
• quasi-mercan·tile adjective
• un·mercan·tile adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercantile¹

C17: from French, from Italian, from mercante merchant

Synonym Study

See commercial.

Example Sentences

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.

From Los Angeles Times

The case was filed at Madrid’s mercantile courts.

From 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.

From Science Magazine

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

From Seattle Times

Clad in a snazzy snakeskin jacket and carrying a guitar, Val Xavier steps into a small town’s mercantile like a handsome troubadour dropping by to serenade the locals.

From New York Times

Related Words

• economic
• financial
• monetary
• profit-making
• profitable
• wholesale