a theory prevalent in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries asserting that the wealth of a nation depends on its possession of precious metals and therefore that the government of a nation must maximize the foreign trade surplus, and foster national commercial interests, a merchant marine, the establishment of colonies, etc
2. a rare word for commercialism (sense 1)
Derived forms
mercantilist (ˈmercanˌtilist)
noun, adjective
mercantilistic (ˌmercantiˈlistic)
adjective
mercantile system in American English
noun
Economics
a system of political and economic policy, evolving with the modern national state and seeking to secure a nation's political and economic supremacy in its rivalry with other states. According to this system, money was regarded as a store of wealth,and the goal of a state was the accumulation of precious metals, by exporting the largest possible quantity of its products and importing as little as possible, thus establishing a favorable balance of trade
Word origin
[1770–80]This word is first recorded in the period 1770–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: charade, crescendo, jungle, red flag, taboo