Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

mercantilism

mer.can.til.ism \-.te-(*)l-.iz-*m, -.ti-(*)l-\ \-.te--l*st, -.ti--\ 
   \.m*r-k*n-.te--'lis-tik, -.ti--\ n 1: the theory or practice of mercantile 
   pursuits : COMMERCIALISM  2: an economic system developing during the decay 
   of feudalism to unify and  increase the power and esp. the monetary wealth 
   of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national 
   economy usu. through policies designed to secure an accumulation of 
   bullion, a favorable balance of trade, the development of agriculture and 
   manufactures, and the establishment of foreign trading monopolies - 
   mer.can.til.ist nor ;aj