Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ludd

noun

/lʌd/

Definition

A member of a group of early 19th-century English workers who destroyed machinery, particularly in the textile industry, as a protest against industrialization.

Examples

The Ludds were known for their radical methods of protest.
Many believe the Ludd movement was a response to the dehumanizing nature of factory work.

Meaning

Ludd refers specifically to individuals who resisted the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, often feeling that new technologies threatened their jobs and livelihoods.