1. to take parts from something to use in repairing or building something else
Usage: British spelling; past tense of cannibalise
2. to reduce the sales or market share of one’s own product by introducing a competing product
Usage: business context; British spelling

Examples

• The mechanic cannibalised the old car for spare parts.
• They cannibalised three broken computers to make one working machine.
• The company cannibalised its own bestselling product with the new release.
• Old electronics were cannibalised to build the prototype.
• The new smartphone model cannibalised sales of the previous version.
• Engineers cannibalised equipment from the damaged satellite.
• The restaurant chain worried that opening nearby locations would cannibalise existing stores.