comptroller
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
Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 27 Feb. 2025
Rideshare business is booming in Connecticut and across the country but the young industry must change, drivers and the state’s comptroller say.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2025
Hochul’s final action would give the deputy state comptroller more funding.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
The comptroller cannot deduct more than $2 million in a fiscal year.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comptroller
Cite this Entry
“Comptroller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comptroller. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
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comptroller
noun
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Legal Definition
comptroller
noun
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