comptroller

noun

comp·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər 

ˈkäm(p)-ˌtrō-,

käm(p)-ˈtrō- 

1

: a royal-household official who examines and supervises expenditures

2

: a public official who audits government accounts and sometimes certifies expenditures

3

: controller sense 1c

comptrollership

kən-ˈtrō-lər-ˌship 

ˈkäm(p)-ˌtrō-

käm(p)-ˈtrō-

noun

Did you know?

If you think "comptroller" looks like a mistaken spelling of "controller," you're partially right. Today, "comptroller" is an established word that shares one of its meanings (sense 3) with "controller." The term did originate as a misspelling, however. Around the 15th century, Middle English speakers altered the spelling of "conterroller" (meaning "controller," from the Middle French contrerolleur) under the influence of the Middle French word compte ("account"). The resulting word, "comptroller," has attracted criticism over the years. Grammarian Henry Fowler condemned "comptroller" as "not merely archaic, but erroneous" in 1920, and a lexicographical column from 1931 agreed that "comptroller" is "erroneous and should not be accepted as correct." Nevertheless, such modern institutions as colleges and governments continue to have comptrollers. "Comptrollership" occasionally turns up as well.

Examples of comptroller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The comptroller’s office received information on over 600,000 transactions from the CSCU financial system, and another 180,000 transactions from system leaders’ state credit cards, Scanlon said. —Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 18 Dec. 2024

The city’s acting comptroller, Kathe Swanson, discovered the dummy account while Crundwell had been on leave and reported it to the city’s mayor. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Two of those spots have to be filled by the comptroller of the currency and the CFPB director. —Michelle Price, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024

The funds are meant to be used on development improvement within its zone, according to the Texas comptroller’s office. —Mason Rouser, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, alteration of countreroller controller

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

comptroller

noun

comp·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər  käm(p)- 

ˈkäm(p)-ˌtrō-lər

: a public official who examines financial accounts

Legal Definition

comptroller

noun

comp·​trol·​ler kən-ˈtrō-lər, ˈkämp-ˌtrō- 

: the head accounting officer of a company or government