troglodyte: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyFormal, Literary, Technical
Quick answer
What does “troglodyte” mean?
a person who lives in a cave.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person who lives in a cave; a hermit or recluse.
A person who is deliberately ignorant, old-fashioned, or hostile to progress; someone who behaves in a brutish or uncivilized manner. Also, in biology, an animal living in caves.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage.
Connotations
Similar negative/insulting connotations in metaphorical use in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects; slightly more common in British academic writing due to classical education traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “troglodyte” in a Sentence
Noun: be/label/accuse someone a troglodyteAdjectival modification: Adjective + troglodyte (e.g., digital troglodyte)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “troglodyte” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) He seems to troglodyte away in his basement, avoiding all social media.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) She accused him of troglodyting by refusing to get a smartphone.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare/Non-standard) He lived troglodytely, with no internet or central heating.
American English
- (Extremely rare/Non-standard) They behaved almost troglodytely at the tech conference.
adjective
British English
- His troglodyte views on public transport are from the last century.
American English
- The company's troglodyte policies are driving away younger employees.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used metaphorically to criticize a competitor or colleague resistant to new technology or methods (e.g., 'He's a troglodyte when it comes to digital marketing').
Academic
Used in anthropology, archaeology, and history to refer to prehistoric cave dwellers. Also in social sciences as a metaphor for regressive attitudes.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used as a humorous or insulting term for someone seen as very old-fashioned or out of touch, especially with technology.
Technical
In zoology/biology, refers to animals adapted to cave life (e.g., troglodytic fish).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “troglodyte”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “troglodyte”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “troglodyte”
- Misspelling as 'trogladite' or 'trogledyte'. Incorrectly using it as a direct synonym for 'hermit' without the negative/conservative connotation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it often is. In historical, archaeological, or biological contexts, it is a neutral technical term for a cave dweller or cave-dwelling species. In modern metaphorical use for people, it is almost always pejorative.
Both can describe someone opposed to progress. 'Luddite' specifically refers to opposition to new technology or industrialisation. 'Troglodyte' is broader, suggesting general backwardness, brutishness, or ignorance, not solely technological.
Standard dictionaries list it only as a noun. However, in creative or informal language, adjectival use ('troglodyte views') is occasionally seen. Verb and adverb forms are non-standard and very rare.
From Latin 'troglodyta', from Greek 'trōglodytēs', meaning 'cave-dweller', from 'trōglē' (hole) + 'dyein' (to enter).
a person who lives in a cave.
Troglodyte is usually formal, literary, technical in register.
Troglodyte: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrɒɡ.lə.daɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtrɑːɡ.lə.daɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live like a troglodyte (to live in primitive, reclusive conditions)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TROLL' in a cave 'DWELLS' (Trog-lo-dyte). A troll is a mythical cave creature, often portrayed as brutish.
Conceptual Metaphor
IGNORANCE/BACKWARDNESS IS LIVING IN A CAVE; A PERSON IS A PRIMITIVE CAVE-DWELLER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'troglodyte' used in a neutral, non-insulting way?