1. to take parts from one machine, vehicle, or device to repair or build another
Usage: British spelling
2. to reduce the sales or market share of one’s own product by introducing a competing product
Usage: business; British spelling

Examples

• The mechanic had to cannibalise two old cars to make one working vehicle.
• They cannibalised parts from the broken printer to fix the office copier.
• The company worried that their new smartphone would cannibalise sales of their existing model.
• Rather than throw away the old computer, we cannibalised it for spare parts.
• The restaurant chain didn’t want to cannibalise their flagship location by opening too close.
• Engineers often cannibalise equipment from decommissioned projects.