1. Plural of panopticon; buildings or systems designed so that a single observer can watch all areas or inhabitants without being seen.
Usage: Often used in architecture and social theory; Derived from Jeremy Bentham's 18th-century prison design concept
2. Metaphorical systems of surveillance or control in which people behave as if constantly watched, even when not actually observed.
Usage: Common in sociology, philosophy, and cultural criticism

Examples

• Modern workplaces sometimes function as panopticons, with employees aware they may be monitored at any time.
• The architect studied historical panopticons to understand how surveillance shapes behavior.
• Social media platforms have been criticized as digital panopticons that track user activity.
• Bentham's panopticons were designed to maximize efficiency in prisons through constant observation.
• The theory of panopticons explains how people self-regulate when they believe they are being watched.
• Security cameras create panopticons in public spaces, influencing how people move and act.