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
Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
In addition to the investment, NYCB announced Joseph Otting, a former comptroller of the currency, will replace Alessandro DiNello as CEO.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
Joseph Otting, a former comptroller of the currency, will become the bank’s CEO.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
The bill added the secretary of state, attorney general, state comptroller, state treasurer and their employees to those who could carry guns at the capitol building as well as General Assembly employees and members of the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Mar. 2024
Moore highlighted both the record amount going to the program and a recent report from the state comptroller that showed women dropping out of the workforce amid high child-care expenses.
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024
If the comptroller gives the green light, the Northwest school district must hold a public meeting within 30 days about the whether to approve the agreement.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2024
An audit by the city comptroller found that city was doing little to see that the program, known as intensive mobile treatment, or I.M.T., was getting results.
—James Barron, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
He was sworn in as comptroller of the currency in November 2017 and left office in March 2020.
—Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comptroller.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near comptroller
Cite this Entry
“Comptroller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comptroller. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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comptroller
noun
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comptroller
noun
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