1. a medieval merchant guild or association, especially the Hanseatic League of northern European trading cities
Usage: historical; often capitalized when referring to the Hanseatic League

Examples

• The Hansa was a powerful confederation of merchant guilds in medieval Europe.
• Members of the hansa controlled trade routes across the Baltic Sea.
• The Hanseatic League, or Hansa, dominated commerce in northern Europe during the Middle Ages.
• Merchants joined the hansa to protect their trading interests and establish common standards.