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
Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Her selection of Mamdani marks a disappointment for Lander, a longtime ally who was endorsed by Ocasio-Cortez for his 2021 comptroller run.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
The current city comptroller and earnest fedora wearer — who for eight years represented the 39th District covering Park Slope and Gowanus on the City Council — purchased a two-family brownstone on leafy 13th Street in Park Slope, paying $655,000 in 2002.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 4 June 2025
Brad Lander, the city comptroller who is running for mayor, wants to expand the program and use more on-street containers.
—Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 2 June 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 18 Jun. 2025.
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comptroller
noun
käm(p)-
Legal Definition
comptroller
noun
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