Ombudsman

noun

/ˈɒmbʊdzmən/

An independent official appointed to investigate complaints by private citizens against government authorities or public institutions — the Lokpal and Lokayukta function as India's ombudsman institutions for corruption-related grievances.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The institution of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas, India's answer to the Scandinavian ombudsman, was envisaged as an independent grievance-redressal mechanism that could insulate citizens from bureaucratic high-handedness without recourse to protracted litigation.

Synonyms

grievance officerpublic advocatecomplaints commissionerwatchdogmediatoradjudicator

Antonyms

wrongdoertransgressoroffender

🌱 Word Family

ombudsman (n.), ombudsmen (n. pl.), ombudswoman (n.), ombudsperson (n.), ombudsman's (possessive)

🔡 Root

Swedish ombudsman = commissioner, agent; Old Norse umboðsmaðr: umboð = commission + maðr = man

📜 Etymology

From Swedish ombudsman ("commissioner, agent"), from Old Norse umboðsmaðr, from umboð ("commission, delegation") + maðr ("man").

🧠 Memory Hook

Read it as "OM-buds-man" — the friendly "buddy" (buds) man you turn to when officialdom wrongs you; he is your appointed buddy against bureaucracy.

🧭 Ethics & Integrity 📖 Seen in: Probity in Governance & Anti-Corruptio...

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