panopticon

[pan-op-ti-kon]

noun

1. a building, as a prison, hospital, library, or the like, so arranged that all parts of the interior are visible from a single point.

Word History and Origins

Origin of panopticon¹

1760–70; pan- + Greek optikón sight, seeing (neuter of optikós; optic )

Example Sentences

We discuss the panopticon, the lack of walls and how it forces better boundaries.

From Los Angeles Times

Letting defeat creep in when I see all of us getting stomped on by tech-enabled jackboots in an unregulated corporate panopticon.

From Salon

Back then, Rodrigo’s experience as an actor in the durable “High School Musical” franchise — and, of course, as an inhabitant of the digital panopticon that is social media — gave her plenty to rue.

From Los Angeles Times

It was built in 1877 in the form of a panopticon, giving a central guardhouse a clear view to all corners of the "wheel".

From BBC

Taking the second verse of “Pass the Plugs,” Jolicoeur bemoans the industry panopticon of radio programmers, promoters and a record label that wanted more hit singles.

From New York Times