BusinessAugust 15, 2026

cannibalise

KAN-uh-byle

Definition

To reduce the sales or profitability of one of a company's existing products or services by introducing a new, competing one.

Etymology

Derived from the Spanish word 'caníbal', which refers to the indigenous people of the Caribbean; it entered English in the 16th century and evolved to metaphorically describe the consumption or destruction of one's own kind or resources.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how banks risk undermining their own existing customer relationships by launching new digital products that compete with their traditional offerings.

Are Fintech Innovations & Digital Financial: Key Trends Investors Should Watch

Read the full article ↗

Kalkine Media

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