# mercantilism

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #79,753

## Definitions
1. The theory that a nation must always have a positive balance of trade, in the manner that a merchant would operate a shop. Typically this model presupposes protectionism.
2. The theory that holds that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply of capital, and that the global volume of trade is unchangeable.

## Etymology
From mercantile + -ism.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mercantilism