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

But as that incident demonstrated, even a small number of controllers calling in sick can have a big impact. —Joel Rose, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025

Here, the gameplay is powered by motion, meaning body movements are used instead of controllers, so couch potatoes need not apply. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025

As for a nearly two-week delay in posting the city's budget online, the mayor attributed that to a 14-day period in August when the city had no controller. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025

The controllers' corners feel less sharp than on the original Lenovo Legion Go, fitting more comfortably in my hand. —Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 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