Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
rip-van-winkle
noun
/ˈrɪp ˈvæn ˈwɪŋkəl/
Definition
A character from a short story by Washington Irving, representing someone who is oblivious to changes in their environment due to a long absence.
Examples
- After years of living abroad, he felt like a rip-van-winkle when he returned home to find everything had changed.
- Her lack of knowledge about the new technology made her feel like a real rip-van-winkle among her colleagues.
Meaning
Someone who is out of touch with the present or who falls behind due to not keeping up with current events or developments.
Synonyms
- out-of-touch person
- oblivious individual
- nostalgic dreamer
