# controlled

/kənˈtɹoʊɫd/ (US) · /kəntɹˈəʊld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/controlled
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. regulated or limited

adjective · CEFR B1

managed or limited by rules or laws.

For teachers: subjected to regulation, direction, or command by an external authority.

- The city has a controlled parking zone where you need a permit.
- The entry of foreign capital into the local market remains strictly controlled by the central bank to prevent sudden currency fluctuations.

### 2. calm and restrained

adjective · CEFR B2

showing power over your feelings so that you stay calm.

For teachers: demonstrating emotional restraint or self-discipline in one's actions and speech.

- Even though he was angry, he spoke in a very controlled voice.
- Her response to the accusations was remarkably controlled, betraying none of the frustration she likely felt during the hearing.

### 3. scientific testing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

describing a test where one group is compared to another to see if a drug or treatment works.

For teachers: pertaining to an experiment or clinical trial that includes a comparison group to account for variables.

- The new medicine was tested in a controlled study with two hundred people.
- Randomised controlled trials are considered the gold standard for determining the efficacy of new pharmaceutical interventions in modern medicine.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'controlled trial' or 'controlled experiment'.

## Examples

- The doctor controlled the patient's pain with new medicine.
- The medical team worked quickly to ensure the infection was controlled before it could spread to other organs.
- While the primary symptoms were easily controlled through diet and exercise, the secondary complications required a more aggressive pharmacological intervention to maintain the patient's long-term stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.