Main Entry: om·buds·man

Pronunciation: \ˈäm-ˌbu̇dz-mən, ˈȯm-, -bədz-, -ˌman; äm-ˈbu̇dz-, ȯm-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural om·buds·men \-mən\

Etymology: Swedish, literally, representative, from Old Norse umbothsmathr, from umboth commission + mathr man

Date: 1959

1 : a government official (as in Sweden or New Zealand) appointed to receive and investigate complaints made by individuals against abuses or capricious acts of public officials
2 : one that investigates, reports on, and helps settle complaints

— om·buds·man·ship \-ˌship\ noun