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

• regulator
• control

Examples of controller in a Sentence

the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed

Recent Examples on the Web

Fraudsters then attempt to send spear-phishing emails that appear to originate internally, targeting an employee authorized to move money (e.g., an accountant or financial controller). —Sunny Banerjee, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Intense workload increases the risk a controller will fail to anticipate events. —Adrienne Bernhard, Scientific American, 10 July 2025

The company has dedicated itself to making the best controllers for consoles, PCs, and even retro consoles. —Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 9 July 2025

Everything is alien, from the steering wheel that looks like a video game controller to the flashy dashboard display. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025

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