Word
comptroller
Phoneticscomp·trol·ler, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑmˌtɹoʊɫɝ/
UK/kɒmtɹˈəʊlɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a high-level officer who manages the money and spending for a large organization or government. They make sure that financial records are correct and that money is used legally.
n. a senior official responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting within a public or private organization. Often used interchangeably with 'controller' in corporate settings, though 'comptroller' is more common in government contexts.
Examples
“The city comptroller must approve all major spending.”
“After the audit revealed several errors, the comptroller implemented a new system to track every department's expenses more closely.”
“The state comptroller issued a stern warning regarding the projected budget deficit, noting that without immediate cuts, the pension fund would be at risk by the next fiscal year.”
Examples
simple
“The city comptroller must approve all major spending.”
contextual
“After the audit revealed several errors, the comptroller implemented a new system to track every department's expenses more closely.”
complex
“The state comptroller issued a stern warning regarding the projected budget deficit, noting that without immediate cuts, the pension fund would be at risk by the next fiscal year.”
Usage
Commonly used in government or non-profit sectors; in private business, 'controller' is the more frequent spelling.
Pitfall
the computer of the city
the comptroller of the city
Learners may confuse 'comptroller' with 'computer' due to the similar starting letters, though they have entirely different meanings.
Real-World Examples
“Dedicating additional funding to inspections could also be difficult for a city that is projected to face an $8.8bn budget gap in fiscal year 2028, according to the city comptroller .” Etymology
From late Middle English compteroller, a spelling variant of countreroller (from which controller) due to folk etymology: the word was thought to have an etymological connection with Middle French compte (“account”) (Middle French compteroleur is attested circa 1375). Originally the two spellings were equivalent and pronounced identically; the modern pronunciation with [mp] is based on the spelling.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/comptroller