Definition of the word panic room

The term "panic room" refers to a secure, interior room designed to provide a safe haven during a crisis or emergency. It gained popularity in the 1990s after being featured in the novel and subsequent movie, "The Silence of the Lambs," where the character Hannibal Lecter was locked in a cellarammed space called a "panic room" by his victim. The origin of the phrase "panic room" is relatively recent, as similar protective features had different names in the past. In the 1960s and 1970s, banking institutions used the term "vault rooms" to describe secure, hidden spaces designed to protect valuable assets from theft or other emergencies. moguls and wealthy families began to adopt this idea in their private residences, where they referred to the spaces as "safe rooms," "secure rooms," or "storm shelters." However, the term "panic room" started to gain traction in the mainstream media in the 1990s, partially due to the popularity of the movie "The Silence of the Lambs." This term became widely known and used to refer to safe rooms because it evoked feelings of intense fear and urgency, making it a clear and memorable phrase for describing a place designed to provide safety and security in high-stress situations. Today, "panic room" is a commonly used term, not only in popular culture but also in the security industry as a standardized umbrella term for secure rooms of various kinds.