Luddism

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noun

Opposition to the Industrial Revolution by textile workers fearing for their livelihoods.

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Meanings

nounLuddism (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountableOpposition to the Industrial Revolution by textile workers fearing for their livelihoods.
  2. broadlyderogatoryuncountableOpposition to technological change.

    He walks over to the wine crates holding the LPs, gets infuriated with the brutal Luddism of any man who still deals in vinyl and needle.

    2002, Zadie Smith, The Autograph Man, Penguin Books (2003), page 134

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
ludditism

Origin

From Ludd + -ism, after Ned Ludd, a legendary example.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian luddismo, luddismo
  • luddismoopposition to the Industrial Revolution by textile workers
  • luddismoopposition to technological change
  • neoluddismoopposition to technological change
Portuguese ludismo, ludismo
  • ludismoopposition to the Industrial Revolution by textile workers
  • ludismoopposition to technological change
Cite this entry
APA

Luddism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Luddism

MLA

“Luddism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Luddism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Luddism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Luddism.

Source: Luddism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.