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
Examples of 'mercantilistic' in a sentence
mercantilistic
Until the 1820s, both were equally mercantilistic.