controller

[ kuhn-troh-ler ]

noun

1. an employee, often an officer, of a business firm who checks expenditures, finances, etc.; comptroller.
2. a person who regulates, directs, or restrains.
3. British Aeronautics. a dispatcher.
4. a regulating mechanism; governor.
5. Also called control unit, processor. Computers. the key component of a device, as a terminal, printer, or external storage unit, that contains the circuitry necessary to interpret and execute instructions fed into the device.
6. Digital Technology. a remote piece of hardware used to direct or control an electronic device:

   a video game controller.

controller

/ kənˈtrəʊlə /

noun

1. a person who directs, regulates, or restrains
2. Also calledcomptroller a business executive or government officer who is responsible for financial planning, control, etc
3. the equipment concerned with controlling the operation of an electrical device

Derived Forms

• conˈtrollerˌship, noun

Other Words From

• con·troller·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of controller¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English countrollour, from Anglo-French countrero(u)llour, Middle French contrerolleur, equivalent to contrerolle “duplicate roll” + -eur, -our, from Latin -ōr- or -ātōr- noun suffixes; control, -or ², -ator

Example Sentences

Sony's mascot character delighted fans and critics when it arrived on the back of a Dual Sense controller in September.

From BBC

While the OC has about one controller for every 25 autonomous trucks – according to Rio, no one has lost their job because of automation.

From BBC

Night operations are not permitted at the tiny, single-runway airport because of unsafe conditions — there’s no air traffic controller, no evening attendants and no runway lights.

From Los Angeles Times

That measure would expand the subpoena powers of the city attorney and clarify that the city controller can obtain records involving city contractors.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the issues addressed by HH: the ability of the city controller to conduct financial audits and the expansion of the city attorney’s subpoena powers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• authority
• bureaucrat
• chief
• commander
• custodian
• dean
• director
• executive
• head
• inspector
• judge
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• official
• organizer
• superintendent
• supervisor