Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A devotee of mercantilism; a believer in the supreme importance of trade and commerce.
  • noun In political economics, an advocate of the mercantile system, or of some similar theory.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, pertaining to, or believing in mercantilism.
  • noun One who believes in mercantilism.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • And Lincoln was what, back then, was called a mercantilist, ie. he was in favor of gov't giving sweetheart deals to favored business interests.

    Today is the 200th birthday of our greatest President. Ann Althouse 2009

  • [Sidenote: Restrictions on Colonial Industry] (2) The chief concern of the mercantilist was the framing of such governmental regulations of trade as would deter colonial commerce or industry from taking a turn which conceivably might lessen the prosperity of the British manufacturers or shippers, on whom Parliament depended for taxes.

    A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1. Carlton J. H. Hayes 1923

  • With the large reserve accumulation and an explosive export growth, China has been described as mercantilist by some observers.

    unknown title 2009

  • With the large reserve accumulation and an explosive export growth, China has been described as mercantilist by some observers.

    unknown title 2009

  • Change just a few nouns and Blizzard's complaints about Chinese gold farmers begin to sound like Washington's criticism of China's real-world "mercantilist" behavior, especially when globe-trotting Chinese diplomats clinch deal after multibillion-dollar deal to lock down supplies of oil and natural resources, often with despotic regimes.

    Online: A Virtual Gold Rush 2007

  • True, Colbert (1662-1683), the great "mercantilist" minister, did his best to encourage new industries, such as silk production, to make rules for the better conduct of old industries, and to lay taxes on such imported goods as might compete with home products, but French industry could not be made to thrive like that of England.

    A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1. Carlton J. H. Hayes 1923

  • In the eighteenth century the "mercantilist" craze for seizing new markets and shutting out all possible rivals brought about most of the wars that desolated Europe.

    The Development of the European Nations, 1870-1914 (5th ed.) John Holland Rose 1898

  • It's what inevitably happens when a large, productive country tries to run a "mercantilist"

    Redskins Insider Podcast -- The Washington Post Steven Pearlstein 2011

  • It's what inevitably happens when a large, productive country tries to run a "mercantilist"

    Redskins Insider Podcast -- The Washington Post Steven Pearlstein 2011

  • The global imbalances created by such 'mercantilist' and

    MRZine.org 2010

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