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

Steve Poizner contributed $14 million to his 2006 insurance commissioner campaign, Eleni Kounalakis invested more than $8 million in her 2018 lieutenant governor run, while Yvonne Yiu spent nearly $6 million during her 2022 controller campaign. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 June 2026

The controller features a joystick, multiple buttons, and USB-C connectivity for both power and communication. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026

If a dangerous solar storm is detected heading toward Earth, mission controllers would command the fleet to release the material. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 June 2026

The Xbox 25th-anniversary console takes design cues from the original Xbox console, with both the console and controller featuring a translucent green design. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 7 June 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