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

• control
• regulator

Examples of controller in a Sentence

the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed

Recent Examples on the Web

At around 125 miles in altitude, mission controllers would adjust the ISS’s trajectory, tweaking the rocket’s burn to reshape the station’s roughly circular orbit into an ellipse, with its closest earthward point, or perigee, perhaps 90 miles above the planet. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2023

All went well until about eight-and-a-half minutes into the flight when controllers lost contact with the rocket. —William Harwood, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2023

The controller has a D-pad, two analog joysticks, triggers and shoulder buttons, a screenshot button, and a selection of gaming buttons. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023

Matter-over-Thread brings the option of connecting to the lock remotely without using the Wi-Fi connection via a Matter controller with Thread. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 14 Nov. 2023

The report notes that the controller twice issued a low-altitude alert, essentially a warning to the pilot to make a correction. Oct. 11, 2021 Two aviation experts likened spatial disorientation to vertigo. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Nov. 2023

With a controller in hand, Beckham’s rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus comes into view. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023

President Joe Biden’s budget for 2023 called for the hiring of 1,500 more controllers and 1,800 more in 2024. —Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023

The highest-capacity Pro model matches or bests a single-use alkaline battery for most gadgets, including game controllers, toys, and torches. —WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023

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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

• forward air controller
• air traffic controller

• forward air controller
• air traffic controller

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

Legal Definition

controller

noun

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

: comptroller