panopticon

A noun referring to a space or structure, such as a prison, designed so that all parts are visible from a single central point, enabling constant observation.

• 🇩🇪Ein Gebäude oder Raum, insbesondere ein Gefängnis, das so gestaltet ist, dass von einem zentralen Punkt aus alle Bereiche überwacht werden können; im weiteren Sinne jede Struktur oder Einrichtung, die eine ständige, allumfassende Überwachung ermöglicht.

1. Area of total visibility C1 formal

   A space or situation where everything is visible or can be observed.

   • The open-plan office felt like a panopticon, with managers watching from every angle.
   • Social media can create a digital panopticon where users feel constantly observed.
   • The design of the museum created a panopticon effect, allowing guards to see all exhibits at once.

   🇩🇪Raum vollständiger Sichtbarkeit

   Synonyme: fishbowlglasshousegoldfish bowl

2. Circular prison design C1 formal

   A type of institutional building designed by Jeremy Bentham in 1791, consisting of a circular structure with cells arranged around a central observation tower, allowing a single guard to watch all inmates.

   • Bentham's panopticon was intended to reform prisoners through constant surveillance.
   • The panopticon prison design influenced modern architecture and surveillance theory.
   • Although never fully built, the panopticon remains a powerful symbol of control.

   🇩🇪Panoptikum

• panopticons plural form
• panopticons' possessive plural form
• panopticon's possessive singular form