Definitions

1. adjective

relating to or resembling the panopticon, a hypothetical prison building designed by Jeremy Bentham where a single watchman could observe all prisoners without being observed.

“The panoptical design of the new prison facility sparked controversy among human rights activists.”

2. noun

an optical instrument for examining the structure of objects too small to be seen with the naked eye, especially one in which the object is illuminated and magnified by a lens.

“The researchers used a panoptical microscope to study the intricate details of the cell structure.”