controller

controller — noun

1. an object used for operating equipment such as factory machinery, home appliance

1.nounB2
Definition

an object used for operating equipment such as factory machinery, home appliances, or gaming consoles by sending commands through buttons, sticks, or touch controls

Example

Christopher picked up the wireless controller and started his favourite racing game.

wireless controller — common type of game controller

A central controller in the office building adjusts the temperature in each room.

central controller — used for building systems

Common collocations
  • game controller
  • wireless controller
  • central controller
  • TV controller
  • console controller
Synonyms
  • joystick

    refers specifically to a controller with a stick that moves in different directions; common for flight simulators and arcade games

  • remote

    a wireless device for controlling TVs or home appliances from a distance; less precise than 'controller' for gaming

  • gamepad

    a handheld controller held with both hands, typical for modern console gaming

Common Mistakes

I lost the remote controller for my PlayStation.
I lost the controller for my PlayStation.
'remote controller' is uncommon in everyday speech; most people simply say 'controller' for game devices.

2. a person whose job is to direct an activity, a department, or an organization, m

2.nounB2
Definition

a person whose job is to direct an activity, a department, or an organization, making sure that operations run smoothly and goals are met

Example

Ryan works as a financial controller for a large electronics company in Taipei.

financial controller — oversees company accounts

The air traffic controller at Haneda Airport guided the plane safely through the storm.

air traffic controller — manages aircraft movement

Common collocations
  • financial controller
  • air traffic controller
  • production controller
  • project controller
  • quality controller
Synonyms
  • manager

    the most common general term for a person who runs a team or department; 'controller' often implies a stronger focus on financial or operational oversight

  • director

    a senior role with broader strategic responsibility; a director typically oversees multiple managers or controllers

  • administrator

    focuses on carrying out rules, processes, and paperwork rather than making strategic decisions

  • comptroller

    a less common variant spelling of 'controller' used specifically for senior financial officers in government or large institutions

Antonyms
  • subordinate

    a person who works under the direction of a controller or manager

Usage Note

This sense often appears in job titles such as 'financial controller', 'air traffic controller', or 'project controller'. When used without a modifier, the context usually refers to a financial or administrative role within an organization.

Common Mistakes

The controller of the meeting started late.
The person running the meeting started late.
'controller' is not used for someone who chairs a meeting; use 'chairperson' or 'facilitator' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe people in charge, but they differ in scope and setting. A manager typically runs a team, department, or project and focuses on day-to-day operations (e.g., 'the sales manager sets weekly targets'). A director holds a more senior, strategic role that often covers several departments or the entire organisation ('the marketing director decides the company's brand strategy'). An administrator carries out policies, handles paperwork, and keeps systems running rather than making broad decisions ('the school administrator manages student records'). A comptroller is a specialised financial officer — a variant spelling of 'controller' used in government and non-profit contexts — who oversees budgets and accounting (e.g., 'the city comptroller audited the annual budget'). In practice, a financial controller sits between a manager and a director: they supervise the accounting team and report to the finance director.

manager ↗director ↗administrator ↗comptroller

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • remotely
  • centrally
  • wirelessly
  • manually

Phrases

  • game controller
  • wireless controller
  • central controller
  • air traffic controller
  • financial controller
  • production controller
  • quality controller
  • project controller
  • console controller
  • TV controller

Prepositions

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchMedieval LatinEnglish

Derived from the verb 'control' with the agent suffix '-er' (meaning 'one that controls'). The verb 'control' entered English from Anglo-French 'contreroller', meaning 'to check accounts by comparing records', which came from Medieval Latin 'contrarotulare' — a combination of 'contra-' (against) and 'rotulus' (a roll of parchment used for record-keeping). Originally, a 'controller' was a person who verified financial accounts against official registers. The meaning shifted over time from 'financial checker' to the broader sense of 'someone who directs or regulates', and later to any device that governs a machine's operation.