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Cannibalize: meaning, definitions and examples

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cannibalize

 

[ ˈkænɪbəlʌɪz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

business practice

To cannibalize means to take away customers or sales from one of your own products when introducing a new product or service. This term is often used in marketing and product development contexts, where a company's new offering may compete with its existing products. While it can lead to increased overall market share, it can also result in shifting revenue rather than creating new sales. Companies strategically choose to cannibalize to maintain relevance and competitiveness in rapidly evolving markets.

Synonyms

consume, deplete, exploit

Examples of usage

  • The new smartphone model may cannibalize sales of the previous version.
  • By launching the updated version, the company risks cannibalizing its own product line.
  • The marketing team was concerned that the new service would cannibalize existing subscriptions.

Translations

Translations of the word "cannibalize" in other languages:

🇵🇹 canibalizar

🇮🇳 कैनिबलाइज करना

🇩🇪 kanibalisieren

🇮🇩 kanibalize

🇺🇦 канібалізувати

🇵🇱 kanibalizować

🇯🇵 カニバリゼーションする

🇫🇷 cannibaliser

🇪🇸 canibalizar

🇹🇷 kanibalize etmek

🇰🇷 식인하다

🇸🇦 يأكل لحوم البشر

🇨🇿 kanibalizovat

🇸🇰 kanibalizovať

🇨🇳 食人行为

🇸🇮 kanibalizirati

🇮🇸 kannibalísera

🇰🇿 каннибализациялау

🇬🇪 კანიბალიზება

🇦🇿 kanibalizasiya

🇲🇽 canibalizar

Word origin

The term 'cannibalize' originates from the word 'cannibal', which derives from the Spanish word 'caníbal', itself adapted from the Carib language. The actual meaning connected to the practice of eating human flesh came into English in the early 17th century. However, the usage of 'cannibalize' in a financial and business context emerged much later, in the 20th century. It metaphorically applies the idea of 'eating' one’s own resources or market share, akin to a cannibal consuming its own kind. In today's business terminology, it reflects the strategic choices companies make when launching new products that might detract from their existing offerings.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,165, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.