comptroller
noun
ˈkäm(p)-ˌtrō-
Did you know?
If you think "comptroller" looks like a mistaken spelling of "controller," you're partially right. Today, "comptroller" is an established word that shares one of its meanings (sense 3) with "controller." The term did originate as a misspelling, however. Around the 15th century, Middle English speakers altered the spelling of "conterroller" (meaning "controller," from the Middle French contrerolleur) under the influence of the Middle French word compte ("account"). The resulting word, "comptroller," has attracted criticism over the years. Grammarian Henry Fowler condemned "comptroller" as "not merely archaic, but erroneous" in 1920, and a lexicographical column from 1931 agreed that "comptroller" is "erroneous and should not be accepted as correct." Nevertheless, such modern institutions as colleges and governments continue to have comptrollers. "Comptrollership" occasionally turns up as well.
Examples of comptroller in a Sentence
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
If the high court rules in the favor of the comptroller general who filed the suit, the port sale would be annulled.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025
In April, the comptroller office settled with Julian and McLinko for $100,000 and $50,000, respectively.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
After winning the opposition’s 2023 primary with an overwhelming 92 percent of the vote, she was disqualified by the government’s comptroller, which accused her of administrative irregularities and barred her from holding public office for 15 years.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comptroller
Cite this Entry
“Comptroller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comptroller. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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comptroller
noun
käm(p)-
Legal Definition
comptroller
noun
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