controller

noun

con·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər How to pronounce controller (audio) ˈkän-ˌtrō- How to pronounce controller (audio)
1
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
controllership
kən-ˈtrō-lər-ˌship How to pronounce controller (audio)
ˈkän-ˌtrō-
noun

Examples of controller in a Sentence

the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Earlier this year, problems with a phone company telecommunications line between Long Island, New York and Philadelphia caused Air traffic controllers there to repeatedly lost contact with flights approaching or departing Newark Liberty International Airport. Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025 For the past four years, Marquez has served as VP of finance and controller at Anterix. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025 The robot’s movement is powered by an artificial intelligence controller trained with a reinforcement learning algorithm in a virtual environment. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025 Ground controllers then took over control of the arm to install the resupply ship on the side of the Unity node. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for controller

Word History

Etymology

Middle English countreroller, from Anglo-French contreroulur, from contreroule

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of controller was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Controller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controller. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

controller

noun
1
: the chief accounting officer of a business or institution
2
: a person who controls
an air traffic controller
3

Legal Definition

controller

noun
con·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər, ˈkän-ˌtrō- How to pronounce controller (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on controller

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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