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
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
The state’s error rate is just above 14 percent, higher than the national average of about 10 percent, according to the state comptroller’s office.
—New York Times, 11 July 2025
The provision comes after legislative debate, and takes effect on May 1, 2027, enabling transactions based on the state comptroller's valuation of the metals at the time of sale.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
He was joined on the show by city comptroller and fellow candidate Brad Lander, the city’s highest-ranking Jewish official, who had cross-endorsed him.
—Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 29 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 24 Jul. 2025.
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comptroller
noun
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Legal Definition
comptroller
noun
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