What does "luddite" mean?
Any of a group of early-19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood.
Luddite
/[ˈlʌ.ɾaɪt]/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of a group of early-19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood.
- Grammar: luddite is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: anti technology, change-averse, curmudgeons, fogey.
- Useful contrasts: digital-revolutionary, techy, cybernate.
- Usage evidence: Nick is a bit of a Luddite when it comes to new apps. He still hasn't downloaded TikTok.
How to use "luddite"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "luddite" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "luddite" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "luddite" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "luddite" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "luddite" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "anti technology" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "luddite", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of a group of early-19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood. historical
"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.)"
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Luddite. alt-of
- 3 one of the 19th century English workmen who destroyed laborsaving machinery that they thought would cause unemployment wordnet
- 4 Someone who opposes technological change. broadly, derogatory, often
"[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?"
- 5 any opponent of technological progress wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 One who lives among nature, forsaking technology. broadly, informal
Adjective
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Luddite. alt-of
"For me, what luddite success would look like would be a societal shift where we ask ourselves, ‘Why are we burning our planet? Making our lives shittier? Getting rid of every last bit of our autonomy and privacy just to make a few guys rich?’"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Nick is a bit of a Luddite when it comes to new apps. He still hasn't downloaded TikTok."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "luddite"?
Common synonyms include: anti technology, change-averse, curmudgeons, fogey, ludditist, machine breaker.
How do you use "luddite" in a sentence?
Nick is a bit of a Luddite when it comes to new apps. He still hasn't downloaded TikTok.
How do you pronounce "luddite"?
Pronounced /[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”).