category killer

American  

[kat-i-gawr-ee kil-er] / ˈkæt ɪ gɔr i ˌkɪl ər /

noun

1. a store, company, product, etc., that dominates a merchandise or service category and has almost no competition.

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category killer British  

noun

1. a person, product, or business that dominates a particular market

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Etymology

Origin of category killer

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The big-box home goods store has gone through several months of significant upheaval as the chain, once considered a category killer, begins closing stores, cutting jobs and overhauling its merchandising strategy.

From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2022

The big-box chain - once considered a so-called "category killer" in home and bath goods - has seen its fortunes falter after an attempt to sell more of its own-brand goods.

From Reuters • Sep. 6, 2022

Still, this bet supposes that Uber is a category killer and that only the biggest, fastest growing company will survive.

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2014

But Best Buy's competition is far broader than Circuit City, from direct sellers like Amazon and Dell to the quintessential category killer, Wal-Mart, which analysts estimate sold $17 billion in electronics in 2004.

From Time Magazine Archive

Initially derided as the brunt of jokes, the forecast focused channel became profitable within four years and soon had established itself as a media category killer.

From Time Magazine Archive