ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cannibalism

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkænəbəˌɫɪzəm// UK //kˈænɪbəlˌɪzəm// can·ni·bal·ism

n. the act of one animal eating another of its own kind, or a person eating another person. In business, it also describes when a company's new product takes sales away from its own older products.

n. the practice of consuming the flesh of one's own species. In a commercial context, refers to the reduction in sales volume or market share of one product as a result of the introduction of a new product by the same producer.


SIMPLE

The company worried that the new phone would lead to cannibalism of their tablet sales.

CONTEXTUAL

Biologists observed cannibalism in the insect population when food sources became scarce during the long dry season.

COMPLEX

Market analysts warned that launching a cheaper subscription tier might result in corporate cannibalism, effectively eroding the profit margins established by the premium service.

Origin

From cannibal + -ism.

Usage

Often used metaphorically in marketing and economics to describe internal competition.

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