[om.buds.man] n, pl -men [Sw, lit., representative, fr. ON umbothsmathr, fr. umboth commission + mathr man] (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 reported complaints (as from students or consumers), reports findings, and helps to achieve equitable settlements -- om.buds.man.ship n