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

In practice, that means about 40% of controllers are working six days a week, 10 hours a day. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

The arcade controls may be designed for one, but there are two USB-A ports for plugging in controllers for multiplayer or for games that work better with a controller. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 26 June 2025

It’s built like a hybrid of the Nintendo Switch Pro and Xbox controller, with offset analog sticks, sturdy triggers, and a headphone jack for added convenience. —Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 25 June 2025

Last year, county supervisors made around $195,000 a year in base pay, according to the state controller’s database. —Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 24 June 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