What does cannibalising mean?
Cannibalising refers to the act of taking or using something for one's own advantage, often at the expense of others. This can be seen in business, where a company may offer discounts to existing customers to take market share from its competitors. The term can have a negative connotation, implying that a company is harming its own interests or exploiting its customers. However, it can also be used in a more neutral sense to describe a company's strategy. The word is derived from the term 'cannibal', which refers to the act of eating human flesh. In this context, cannibalising refers to the act of consuming or taking something for one's own advantage, rather than literally eating human flesh. The term is often used in business and economics to describe a company's strategy of taking market share from its competitors.
verbTo take or use something for one's own advantage, often at the expense of others.
- To take or use something for one's own advantage, often at the expense of others.
"The company was accused of cannibalising its own sales by offering discounts to existing customers."
"The company was accused of cannibalising its own sales by offering discounts to existing customers."
"The new policy was designed to cannibalise the market share of its competitors."
The plural form 'cannibalisings' is used to describe multiple instances of cannibalising.
"The company was accused of cannibalising its own sales multiple times in the past year."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cannibalising
The word 'cannibalising' is derived from the term 'cannibal', which refers to the act of eating human flesh. The term 'cannibalising' is a verb form of the word 'cannibal', and is used to describe the act of taking or using something for one's own advantage, often at the expense of others. The term is often used in business and economics to describe a company's strategy of taking market share from its competitors.
How cannibalising is actually used
Cannibalising can have a negative connotation, implying that a company is harming its own interests or exploiting its customers. However, it can also be used in a more neutral sense to describe a company's strategy of taking market share from its competitors.