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

The controller’s report is filled with detail, but paints an unrealistically rosy picture by pointing to ongoing state pre-funding efforts. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025

For example, a financial controller role likely prioritizes trust, ethics and data integrity, making gambling behavior, cryptocurrency speculation and financial fraud indicators particularly relevant. —Darrin Lipscomb, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Gracias’s team is in the early stages of developing miniature self-driving cars controlled by biochips: A proof of concept that the system can act as a controller. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 Aug. 2025

Lovell and fellow crewmen, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, working with Houston ground controllers, then converted their lunar module into an effective lifeboat. —Patricio Chile, ABC News, 8 Aug. 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