Luddite

See also: luddite

English

WOTD – 9 January 2009

Named after Ned Ludd, a legendary example, +‎ -ite.

Luddite (plural Luddites)

(historical) Any of a group of early-19th-century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood.
- 2022, R. F. Kuang, Babel, HarperVoyager, page 482 (footnote):
  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.)
(by extension, often derogatory) Someone who opposes technological change.
- 2012 October 24, David Leonhardt, “Standard of Living Is in the Shadows as Election Issue”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:
  [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?
(by extension, casual) One who lives among nature, forsaking technology.

19th-century textile worker who destroyed machinery

one opposing technological change

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