panopticon
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of panopticon
1760–70; pan- + Greek optikón sight, seeing (neuter of optikós; see optic)
Explanation
If your school is designed as a panopticon, it means that if you stand in the middle of the building, you can see every single classroom. Use the noun panopticon to talk about a circular building — especially a prison with cells distributed around a central surveillance station. Eighteenth century philosopher Jeremy Bentham dreamed up the idea and was kind enough to bequeath us the word as well, from the Greek pan, or "all," and optikon, "of or for sight."
Vocabulary lists containing panopticon
Common Senses: Op, Ops, Opt ("Sight")
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For National Pancake Day, Words With the Greek Roots "Pan-"
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A Very Large Expanse of Sea
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Was Ryan Murphy calling from his own personal Panopticon?
From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2021
His father ran music halls and when he was just 16, Stan managed to persuade the owner of Glasgow's Britannia Panopticon to give him a slot during amateur night.
From BBC • Jan. 7, 2019
Gerardo Avila, Special Projects Coordinator, Panopticon “Put your hands on the table.”
From The Verge • Mar. 25, 2018
Jenni Fagan, whose acclaimed debut novel The Panopticon was highlighted by Guardian readers as an example of writing made richer by the inclusion of swearing, felt the rise in literary profanity was only positive.
From The Guardian • Aug. 8, 2017
It was opened in 1852 and bore the name of the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art.
From Forty Years of 'Spy' by Ward, Leslie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
