comptroller

English

Etymology

From late Middle English compteroller, a spelling variant of countreroller (from which controller) due to folk etymology: the word was thought to have an etymological connection with Middle French compte (“account”) (Middle French compteroleur is attested circa 1375). Originally the two spellings were equivalent and pronounced identically; the modern pronunciation with [mp] is based on the spelling.

Pronunciation

• either as controller or as IPA^(key): [kəmpˈtɹoʊləɹ], [kəmˈtɹoʊləɹ]
• Homophone: controller
• Rhymes: -əʊlə(ɹ)

Noun

comptroller (plural comptrollers)

1. The chief accountant of a company or government.
   • 1660 February 11 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “February 1st, 1659–1660”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume I, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1893, →OCLC, page 339:

     So the Comptroller and I thence to a tavern hard by, and there did agree upon drawing up some letters to be sent to all the pursers and Clerks of the Cheques to make up their accounts.

   • 1988, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 237:

     The terms of the licence shall, in default of agreement, be settled by the comptroller.

Synonyms

• administrator
• chief
• controller
• foreman
• head
• head man
• organiser
• organizer
• overseer
• superintendent
• supervisor

 

Related terms

• comptrol, comptroll
• controller

Translations

the chief accountant of a company or government — see controller