English edit

Etymology edit

From techno- +‎ peasant.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɛknəʊˌpɛzənt/
  • (file)

Noun edit

technopeasant (plural technopeasants)

  1. (informal) One who is disadvantaged or exploited within a modern technological society, especially through inability to use computer technology.
    • 1994, Stewart Wieck, When Will You Rage?[1], page 86:
      “You would be able to, if only you′d — ”
      Jim cut him off in mid-grumble. “I know. ‘If only I′d stop being a technopeasant and open my eyes.’ OK, I know I′ve been a technopeasant, but now I want to open my eyes, and I need you to help me do it.”
    • 1997, Ruth H. Jacobs, Be an Outrageous Older Woman[2], page 111:
      Being a technopeasant, I took his word for it and bought the rabbit ears for an additional sum. When I got home and uncrated the set, I discovered it had a built-in antenna and that I did not need the extra one.
    • 1999, William A. Stahl (William Austin), God and the Chip: Religion and the Culture of Technology[3], page 47:
      In his vision people will be divided into two classes; “the Knows” and the “Know-Nots,” the digirati and the technopeasants.
    • 2001, Ruth Cohen, Alien Invasion: How The Harris Tories Mismanaged Ontario[4], page 182:
      In his other statements it is clear that he regards computer programmers as technopeasants, and this is how many corporations do treat them with programming outsourced to low-wage countries like India.

Related terms edit