noun

ombudsman

OM-buhdz-muhn

Ombudsman (noun) means an official appointed to investigate complaints made by ordinary people against a company, a government department or another organisation, and to recommend a fair settlement. Example: “After the bank refused to refund the fraudulent charges, she took her case to the financial ombudsman.”

noun

An official appointed to investigate complaints made by ordinary people against a company, a government department or another organisation, and to recommend a fair settlement.

"After the bank refused to refund the fraudulent charges, she took her case to the financial ombudsman."

"The ombudsman ruled that the council had failed in its duty of care."

A person inside an organisation whose job is to handle internal grievances confidentially, such as a university or newspaper ombudsman.

"Staff can raise concerns with the university ombudsman without telling their line manager."

How to use ombudsman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn independent official you can complain to when a company or government body has treated you unfairly.

When to use it

Neutral and formal; standard in legal, financial and journalistic writing.

Memory tip

Pronounce it with three clear syllables and stress on the first: OM-buhdz-muhn.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

arbitrator → regulator → auditor →

Common pairings

financial ombudsman ombudsman service refer the case to the ombudsman ombudsman ruled parliamentary ombudsman

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After the bank refused to refund the fraudulent charges, she took her case to the financial _____.

Etymology

From Swedish ombudsman, literally 'representative' or 'agent', from ombud 'commission, proxy'. The office originated in Scandinavian government and the word entered English in the twentieth century.

Origin: Swedish

Synonyms

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adjudicator arbiter mediator complaints commissioner watchdog internal mediator grievance officer

Related words

judge medium monitor Switzerland ref referee broker magistrate

Frequently asked questions

Is an ombudsman a judge?

No. An ombudsman investigates complaints and issues findings, but sits outside the court system. In many schemes the decision is binding on the company if the complainant accepts it, while the complainant remains free to go to court instead.

Does it cost anything to use an ombudsman?

Public and industry ombudsman schemes are normally free to the person complaining, because they are funded by government or by levies on the firms they oversee. You usually have to complain to the organisation itself first and give it a set period, often eight weeks, to respond.

What is the plural, and is there a non-gendered form?

The plural is ombudsmen, though ombudsmans is occasionally seen. Many organisations now use ombuds, ombudsperson or simply the name of the scheme to avoid the gendered ending.

What is the meaning of ombudsman?

"ombudsman" (noun) means an official appointed to investigate complaints made by ordinary people against a company, a government department or another organisation, and to recommend a fair settlement.

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