comptroller
noun
Did you know?
If you think "comptroller" looks like a mistaken spelling of "controller," you're partially right. Today, "comptroller" is an established word that shares one of its meanings (sense 3) with "controller." The term did originate as a misspelling, however. Around the 15th century, Middle English speakers altered the spelling of "conterroller" (meaning "controller," from the Middle French contrerolleur) under the influence of the Middle French word compte ("account"). The resulting word, "comptroller," has attracted criticism over the years. Grammarian Henry Fowler condemned "comptroller" as "not merely archaic, but erroneous" in 1920, and a lexicographical column from 1931 agreed that "comptroller" is "erroneous and should not be accepted as correct." Nevertheless, such modern institutions as colleges and governments continue to have comptrollers. "Comptrollership" occasionally turns up as well.
Examples of comptroller in a Sentence
Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 23 June 2025
Baraka was running in the Democratic primary for New Jersey governor, while Lander, the city comptroller, is running for New York City mayor.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 19 June 2025
Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller, emerged from the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, in lower Manhattan, on Tuesday looking sheepish and relieved.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and a candidate for mayor, said he has not been charged following his arrest for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer while at an immigration court on Tuesday.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for comptroller
Cite this Entry
“Comptroller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comptroller. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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comptroller
noun
käm(p)-
Legal Definition
comptroller
noun
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