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

Before the title screen comes up, thirty minutes into the game, Expedition 33 provides an emotional hook with the 34th Gommage that forced me to set the controller down and take it all in for a minute. —Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025

The device requires him to wear a controller and battery packs at all times, with a cable exiting his abdomen. —Lucas Bogardus, Miami Herald, 4 Dec. 2025

The new controller also enabled the robot to perform saccade-like motions, fast directional shifts used by insects to stabilize vision. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025

But shortly after, the plane started to descend, and the controller instructed the pilot to turn, and instead of a response, noises were heard. —Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Dec. 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