What does mercantilist mean?
A mercantilist is someone who supports mercantilism, an economic and political approach that treats trade as an instrument of national power. Mercantilist policies commonly include tariffs, quotas, export restrictions, and other measures intended to protect domestic industries and limit foreign competition. The term can carry a historical or intellectual flavor, but it is also used in modern political criticism to describe policies viewed as protectionist or economically nationalist. Its connotations depend on context: historically, mercantilism was a widely influential system of economic thought, while today the word often implies a departure from free-trade principles. Understanding “mercantilist” helps distinguish the person or advocate from “mercantilism,” the doctrine itself.
nounA mercantilist is an advocate of mercantilism, the economic doctrine that a nation's trade and wealth should be organized primarily to strengthen national power and protect domestic industry. The term can also refer to someone who favors restrictive trade policies, such as tariffs, export controls, or limits on foreign competition.
- A person who advocates mercantilism or supports a nationalistic approach to economic policy, especially one that protects domestic trade and restricts foreign competition.
"The mercantilist argued that the new tariffs would protect British manufacturers and preserve jobs."
"Many mercantilists believe that tariffs can preserve strategically important industries."
"The speaker described the policy as a typically mercantilist attempt to give domestic producers priority over foreign competitors."
The plural is formed by adding “-s.”
"The mercantilists disagreed over how aggressively national trade should be protected."
In the mercantilist playbook, trade is a tool of national power, not simply commerce between equals.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mercantilist come from?
“Mercantilist” comes from “mercantilism,” which was borrowed from French mercantilisme. These words ultimately connect with Latin mercant-, meaning “trader” or “merchant,” and with the wider family of English words including “merchant,” “commerce,” and “mercenary.” The suffix “-ist” identifies someone who follows or advocates a particular doctrine.
Related word forms
How mercantilist is actually used
Usually intellectual or historical in tone. In contemporary debate, the term may be used critically to characterize policies that prioritize national economic power over open and comparatively free trade.
Easily confused with mercantilist
A mercantilist is a person who supports mercantilism, whereas mercantilism is the economic doctrine or policy itself.