Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cannibalize

verb

/ˈkænɪbəˌlaɪz/

Definition

To remove or use parts from one thing to repair or enhance another.

Examples

The company decided to cannibalize its older model to improve the new one.
When launching new products, brands must consider the risk of cannibalizing existing sales.

Meaning

Cannibalize often refers to taking components from a product to enhance another product, or sometimes it can describe a business practice where one product reduces the sales of another within the same company.