# controller

/kənˈtɹoʊɫɝ/ (US) · /kəntɹˈəʊlɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. video game device

noun · CEFR A2

a handheld device you use to play video games and control the characters.

For teachers: a hardware input device designed for interacting with video games.

- He dropped his controller on the floor after losing the final level of the game.
- Modern wireless controllers feature haptic feedback and motion sensors to provide a more immersive experience for the player.

### 2. person in charge

noun · CEFR B1

a person who manages or directs a particular system or process.

For teachers: an individual responsible for the supervision and regulation of a specific operation or system.

- The air traffic controller guided the plane safely to the runway.
- As the mission controller, she was responsible for every critical decision made during the satellite's orbital insertion.

### 3. financial officer

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the person in charge of managing a company's money and accounting.

For teachers: the chief accounting officer of an organisation, responsible for financial reporting and auditing.

- The company controller noticed a mistake in the yearly budget report.
- The corporate controller implemented new auditing procedures to ensure the subsidiary remained compliant with international tax regulations.

Usage: Often spelled 'comptroller' in government or non-profit contexts, though the pronunciation is usually the same.

### 4. hardware/software component

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a part of a computer or machine that manages how other parts work.

For teachers: a hardware device or software module that manages or directs the flow of data between components.

- The computer needs a new hard drive controller to speed up data transfers.
- In the model-view-controller architecture, the controller accepts input and converts it into commands for the model or view.

### 5. intelligence supervisor

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the person who gives orders to a secret agent working in the field.

For teachers: the individual who supervises and handles communication with an intelligence agent during an operation.

- The spy sent a coded message back to his controller in London.
- The agent began to suspect that his controller had been compromised by a double agent within the agency.

## Examples

- I need a new controller for my game console.
- The air traffic controller guided the plane safely to the runway during the heavy storm.
- Engineers installed a sophisticated logic controller to automate the factory's assembly line, significantly reducing the margin for human error in the production cycle.

---

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.