Luddite
nounUK, US /ˈlʌ.daɪt/ · US [ˈlʌ.ɾaɪt]
Etymology Named after Ned Ludd, a legendary 18th century example, + -ite. The surname is uncommon and of uncertain origin, but compare Old English hlud (“loud, famous”).
1
Historical Any of a group of early-19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood.
- For instance, the Luddites, so maligned as technology-fearing machine breakers, were a highly sophisticated insurrectionary movement, composed of small, well-disciplined groups who used disguises and watchwords, raised funds and gathered arms, terrorized their opponents, and carried out well-planned, targeted attacks. (And, while it is true the Luddite movement ultimately failed, it was only after Parliament had mobilized twelve thousand troops to put it down – more troops than had fought in the Peninsular War.)2022, R. F. Kuang, Babel, HarperVoyager, page 482 (footnote):
2
Broadly, Derogatory, Often Someone who opposes technological change.
- [Benjamin Friedman] added, "How long does it take the Luddites to be wrong — a few years, a decade, a couple of decades?" Perhaps just as important, what happens to the workers who happen to be living during a time when the Luddite argument has some truth to it?2012 October 24, David Leonhardt, “Standard of Living Is in the Shadows as Election Issue”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
3
Broadly, Informal One who lives among nature, forsaking technology.
- Derived terms
- neo-Luddism, neo-Luddite