panopticon

/pæˈnɑptɪˌkɑn/

Other forms: panopticons

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."

Definitions of panopticon

1. noun

   a circular prison with cells distributed around a central surveillance station; proposed by Jeremy Bentham in 1791
   type of:

   prison, prison house

   a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
2. noun

   an area where everything is visible
   types:

   saleroom, salesroom, showroom

   an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed

   type of:

   area

   a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function