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.

• 🇫🇷Nom désignant un espace ou une construction, comme une prison, conçu de telle sorte que toutes ses parties sont visibles depuis un point central, permettant une surveillance constante.

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.

   🇫🇷Panoptique

   Synonymes: 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.

   🇫🇷Panoptique

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