controller

noun

con·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər  ˈkän-ˌtrō- 

1

a

: comptroller sense 1

b

: comptroller sense 2

c

: the chief accounting officer of a business enterprise or an institution (such as a college)

2

a

: one that controls or has power or authority to control

air traffic controller

b

: control sense 3a

controllership

kən-ˈtrō-lər-ˌship 

ˈkän-ˌtrō-

noun

Synonyms of controller

• regulator
• control

Examples of controller in a Sentence

the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed

Recent Examples on the Web

Also scheduled are Michael Tubbs and Josh Fryday, candidates for lieutenant governor; Falizah Malik, candidate for City Council; Jake Levine and Esther Kim Varet, congressional candidates; and Zach Sokoloff, city controller candidate. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 May 2026

Since that was our biggest worry, the Luna controller got especially high marks for dependability. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 May 2026

Duffy said the administration sees AI as a way to reduce workload for controllers and improve efficiency across increasingly crowded airspace. —Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 24 May 2026

Primary voters will cast ballots on candidates for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner and state superintendent of schools. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English countreroller, from Anglo-French contreroulur, from contreroule

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing controller

• air traffic controller
• forward air controller

Rhymes for controller

• bipolar
• comptroller
• dipolar
• gaoler
• nonpolar
• premolar
• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar
• circumpolar
• equimolar
• monopolar

Kids Definition

controller

noun

con·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər  ˈkän-ˌtrō-lər 

1

: the chief accounting officer of a business or institution

2

: a person who controls

an air traffic controller

3

: control entry 2 sense 3a

Legal Definition

controller

noun

con·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər, ˈkän-ˌtrō- 

: comptroller