kontrolle

Kontrolle is a German noun that denotes the act of checking, verifying, supervising, or regulating something. It can refer to an oversight role performed by authorities, as well as to a specific verification process in business, industry, or technology. The word is borrowed from the French contrôle and is used in German with the standard noun-forming pattern; the related verb is kontrollieren.

In everyday usage, Kontrolle often describes checks performed by personnel or institutions. Examples include ticket checks on public transport, border or customs checks, and security screenings. In administrative and regulatory contexts, Kontrolle refers to oversight activities, compliance monitoring, and enforcement measures exercised by authorities, companies, or auditors.

In industry and science, Kontrolle is common in phrases such as Qualitätskontrolle (quality control), Prozesskontrolle (process control), and Kostenkontrolle (cost control). It also appears in technical fields as controlling or supervising systems, such as Kontrollsysteme or, more generally, in the sense of control in control theory and engineering. In these contexts, Kontrolle denotes the mechanisms that regulate behavior, performance, or outcomes.

Kontrolle is distinct from related terms: Aufsicht emphasizes supervision and oversight, while Überprüfung or Prüfung focuses on inspection or verification. In everyday language, the nuance of Kontrolle ranges from monitoring and governance to checking outcomes and ensuring standards. See also control, quality control, and audits.