The definition of mercantile is something related to merchants or trade.
(adjective)The group of retail business owners are an example of a group that would be described as mercantile.
See mercantile in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
Origin: Fr < It < mercante, merchant < L mercans, prp. of mercari: see merchant
See mercantile in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective
Origin:
Origin: French
Origin: , from Italian
Origin: , from mercante, merchant
Origin: , from Latin mercāns, mercant-
Origin: , from
Origin: present participle of mercārī, to trade
Origin: , from merx, merc-, merchandise, goods
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