noun
ombudsman
AHM-budz-mun/ˈɑːmbʌdzmən/
An official who investigates complaints against institutions or authorities.
The ombudsman investigates complaints about unfair treatment by city agencies.
Etymology
The Swedish word literally means “commission man” and names an official tasked with hearing complaints about abuses of state authority. That investigative task remains central to the broader role involving organizations or authorities.
In context
has heavily clamped down on I am aware that some cases persist where consumers have felt let down or aggrieved by the service provided which is why the Green Deal ombudsman continues to operate investigate and intervene on complaints
More examples
- Students can ask the university ombudsman to investigate their complaints.
- The ombudsman's report identifies problems with the hospital's complaint process.
- Two ombudsmen review complaints about delays in benefit payments.
Forms
ombudsman · ombudsmen
Similar words
- investigator
- An investigator examines cases without necessarily handling complaints against institutions.
- watchdog
- A watchdog monitors misconduct but may lack an official appointment.