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Translate files Mercantile
/ˈmɜːrkənˌtaɪl/
Meaning & Definition
adjective
Relating to commerce or trade.
The mercantile policies of the era promoted trade and economic growth.
Engaged in the business of commercial trade.
She worked for a mercantile firm that specialized in importing goods from overseas.
Of or relating to merchants.
The town's mercantile history is evident in its old marketplaces.
Characteristic of a merchant; commercial.
His mercantile instincts led him to invest in several lucrative ventures.
Etymology
From Middle English, from Latin 'mercantilis', from 'mercans', the present participle of 'mercari' (to trade).
Common Phrases and Expressions
mercantile interests
Business or trade interests that are focused on commerce.
mercantile exchange
A marketplace for buying or selling commodities.
Related Words
merchant
A person or company involved in wholesale trade.
commerce
The activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale.
trade
The action of buying and selling goods and services.
Slang Meanings
Used to describe someone overly focused on profit.
He's so mercantile, he wouldn't donate even a dollar to charity.
Referring to a business that's only about making money.
That place is all mercantile, no soul.