Synonyms for

Mercantile

Verb / ˈmɜ:kʌˌntaɪl / Another word for mercantile — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

relating to trade or commerce

Synonyms & similar words

mercenary moneymaking commercial business trading financial economic monetary industrial market sales exchange buying selling mercenary profitable profit-making money-making capitalistic materialistic money-oriented transactional

Synonyms by register

Formal

commercial trading business economic

Informal

shop store market

Literary

bartering trafficking

Antonyms

noncommercial nonbusiness unprofitable unproductive nonproductive

Common collocations

  • mercantile exchange
  • mercantile law
  • mercantile agency
  • mercantile system
  • mercantile business
  • mercantile pursuits
  • mercantile establishment

Word family

noun mercantilism
adjective mercantile

Usage note

Primarily used to describe activities related to trade and commerce, especially in a historical context. It can sometimes imply a focus on profit over other considerations.

Example sentences

  1. She works for a mercantile company that sells goods all over the world.
  2. The town's mercantile district is full of shops and stores.
  3. His family has been in the mercantile business for generations.
  4. The mercantile system was a precursor to modern capitalism.
  5. Mercantile trade was central to the development of many ancient civilizations.

Quotes

  • The mercantile system, which has so long been the reigning system, is, perhaps, the least advantageous to the society at large of any that could well have been contrived.
  • The mercantile classes are the most powerful in every community, and their power is due to their wealth.
  • The mercantile system was the forerunner of capitalism as we know it today.

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