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technophobia

American  
[tek-nuh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌtɛk nəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

  1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of technology, especially advanced digital technology including computers, robots, and artificial intelligence.

  2. a dislike of or aversion to new or changing technology; Luddism.


technophobia British  
/ ˌtɛknəʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

  1. fear of the effects of technological developments on society or the environment

  2. fear of using technological devices, such as computers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of technophobia

First recorded in 1960–65; techno- + -phobia

Vocabulary lists containing technophobia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Pentagon officials say fears are misplaced because weapons aren’t fully autonomous—and letting technophobia hamstring commanders’ use of AI poses a bigger risk.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 19, 2026

"Without crossing to the extreme of technophobia, such malware does pose a threat and must be tackled efficiently."

From Reuters Aug. 3, 2022

But I’ll take that attitude over technophobia any day.

From Slate Oct. 2, 2015

Despite the apparent technophobia of “Man Against Machine,” it’s not the pumped-up sound of modern Nashville that is the target of Brooks' war, but the sly, smart-alecky tone that now defines the genre.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 10, 2014

The Nolans cleverly conflate scientific denialism with technophobia, imagining a fatalistic society that has traded large ambition for small-scale problem solving and ultimate resignation.

From New York Times Nov. 4, 2014

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