ombudsman

[ om-buh dz-muh n, -man, -boo dz-, awm-, om-boo dz-muh n, -man, awm- ]
/ ˈɒm bədz mən, -ˌmæn, -bʊdz-, ˈɔm-, ɒmˈbʊdz mən, -ˌmæn, ɔm- /

noun, plural om·buds·men [om-buh dz-muh n, -men, -boo dz-, awm-, om-boo dz-muh n, -men, awm-] /ˈɒm bədz mən, -ˌmɛn, -bʊdz-, ˈɔm-, ɒmˈbʊdz mən, -ˌmɛn, ɔm-/.

a government official who hears and investigates complaints by private citizens against other officials or government agencies.
a person who investigates and attempts to resolve complaints and problems, as between employees and an employer or between students and a university.

Origin of ombudsman

1910–15; < Swedish: legal representative, equivalent to ombud agent, attorney + -s ’s1 + -man -man

usage note for ombudsman

See -man.

Example sentences from the Web for ombudsman

British Dictionary definitions for ombudsman

ombudsman
/ (ˈɒmbʊdzmən) /

noun plural -men

a commissioner who acts as independent referee between individual citizens and their government or its administration
(in Britain) an official, without power of sanction or mechanism of appeal, who investigates complaints of maladministration by members of the public against national or local government or its servants Formal names: Commissioner for Local Administration, Health Service Commissioner, Parliamentary Commissioner See also Financial Ombudsman

Word Origin for ombudsman

C20: from Swedish: commissioner

Cultural definitions for ombudsman

ombudsman
[ (om-buhdz-muhn, om-boodz-muhn) ]

An official appointed by a government or other organization to investigate complaints against people in authority. This position is designed to give those with less power — the “little people” — a voice in the operation of large organizations.