luddite
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A member of a group of 19th-century English workers who destroyed machinery in protest: The term originates from groups of textile workers who, fearing unemployment, sabotaged labor-saving machinery like weaving frames during the Industrial Revolution.
- A person who is opposed to new technology or technological progress: In modern usage, it describes anyone who is resistant to adopting new technologies, often due to skepticism about their benefits or fear of their consequences.
Usage Examples
Noun (Historical):
- The factory owner feared the Luddites would attack his new mechanical looms.
- The Luddite movement was a response to rapid industrialization and poor working conditions.
Noun (Modern):
- My grandfather is a bit of a Luddite; he refuses to use a smartphone and still writes letters by hand.
- She was called a Luddite for criticizing the company's over-reliance on automation.
Advanced Usage
- Used as a modifier: The term can be used adjectivally to describe attitudes or actions.
- He has a Luddite attitude towards social media, believing it harms genuine communication.
- The article discussed the Luddite impulse in modern society.
Variants and Related Words
- Luddism (n): The beliefs or practices of Luddites; opposition to technological change.
- His argument was rooted in a deep-seated Luddism.
- Ludditic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of Luddites. (Note: This is a less common derivative.)
- The protest had a distinctly Ludditic tone.
Synonyms
- Technophobe: A person who fears or dislikes advanced technology.
- Reactionary (in this context): A person who opposes political or social progress or reform, which can extend to technological change.
- Traditionalist: A person who advocates maintaining tradition, often including older methods over new technologies.
Antonyms
- Technophile: A person who is enthusiastic about new technology.
- Innovator: A person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products.
- Early adopter: A person who starts using a new product or technology as soon as it becomes available.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To pull a Luddite: An informal phrase meaning to reject or sabotage technology. (Note: This is a modern, colloquial construction based on the term.)
- I had to pull a Luddite and turn off all my notifications to get any work done.
Noun
- one of the 19th century English workmen who destroyed laborsaving machinery that they thought would cause unemployment
- any opponent of technological progress