- the doctrine that arose in Europe with the decline of feudalism, that the economic interests of the nation could be strengthened by the government by protection of home industries, as through tariffs, by increased foreign trade, as through monopolies, and by a balance of exports over imports, with a consequent accumulation of bullion
- commercialism
noun
The definition of mercantilism is an economic system centered around the belief that a government can make a nation more prosperous by regulating trade and using tariffs and other protective measures to achieve a balance of exports over imports.
When a government sets trade regulations and imposes tariffs to make sure that there is an appropriate balance of exports over imports, this method of governing is an example ofmercantilism.
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"mercantilism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism>.
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mercantilism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism
mercantilism
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"mercantilism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism>.
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mercantilism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism
mercantilism
noun
- The theory and system of political economy prevailing in Europe after the decline of feudalism, based on national policies of accumulating bullion, establishing colonies and a merchant marine, and developing industry and mining to attain a favorable balance of trade.
- The practice, methods, or spirit of merchants; commercialism.
Origin of mercantilism
mercantil(e) -ismRelated Forms:
- mer′can·til·ist
adjective
noun
- mer′can·til·is′tic
adjective
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"mercantilism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism>.
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mercantilism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism
Noun
(uncountable)
- An economic theory that holds that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply of capital, and that the global volume of trade is "unchangeable".
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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"mercantilism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism>.
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mercantilism. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Mercantilism
Sentence Examples
- England developed many colonies under mercantilism in order to increase its trading territory.
- The nation is attempting to sell more goods than they purchase, following the ecomonic policy of mercantilism.
- Great Britain imposed a policy of mercantilism upon all of its colonies.
- It is predicted that over time, China will move away from strictly regulated mercantilism.
Words near mercantilism in the dictionary
- mercantilism
- Mercalli scale
- mercallite
- mercantile