- Today's Word
Luddite
[LUD-ayt]
Definition
- (noun) A person who is opposed to new technology or ways of working. It’s often used to describe someone who is resistant to technological change, particularly in the workplace or in everyday life.
Example
Despite everyone else in the office embracing the new project management software, Bob remained a luddite, insisting on using his old paper-based system.
Fun Fact
The term “Luddite” originated in the early 19th century during the Industrial Revolution in England. It refers to textile workers who protested against the introduction of labor-saving machinery by destroying it. They were supposedly led by a man named Ned Ludd, though his existence is debated. Today, the term has evolved beyond its original context to describe anyone resistant to technological change, often with a slightly derogatory connotation.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.