controller

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

controllership

2 of 2

noun (2)

con·​trol·​ler·​ship kən-ˈtrō-lər-ˌship 

ˈkän-ˌtrō-

plural -s

1

: the office of controller

2

: the position and functions of a controller

Synonyms of controller

Noun (1)

• regulator
• control

Examples of controller in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the controllers for the video game system seem fairly well designed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike conventional legged robots that rely on a single gait or separate controllers for different tasks, APT-RL allows the robot to seamlessly transition between trotting, bounding, climbing, and jumping based on the terrain ahead. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026

Smith found Pissenem on the roof of the [UNVRS] construction site holding a drone controller. — Max Marshall, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026

The project could involve installing the adaptive system software, rewiring the advanced loops, possible upgrades or installation of detection cameras and reprogramming of traffic controllers to collect traffic data, Beach said. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2026

Their bar menu had subtle references to League of Legends, and their cake topper featured life-like figurines of the pair holding video game controllers. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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