# appropriate technology

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appropriate-technology
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

tools and machines that are designed to be simple, cheap, and easy to fix. They are made to fit the specific needs and environment of the local people who use them.

For teachers: an ideological movement and its manifestations involving small-scale, decentralized, labor-intensive, and environmentally sustainable technologies. It emphasizes solutions that are locally autonomous and compatible with the cultural and economic conditions of the community.

## Examples

- Solar cookers are a great example of appropriate technology for sunny regions.
- The charity focused on appropriate technology, like hand-cranked water pumps, because the village lacked a reliable electricity grid.
- The shift toward appropriate technology represents a departure from capital-intensive industrial models, prioritizing ecological harmony and community self-reliance over sheer mechanical efficiency.

## Usage notes

- Often used as an uncountable concept, though specific inventions can be referred to as 'appropriate technologies'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.