1. An official appointed to investigate complaints by citizens against government agencies or public institutions.
Usage: Often capitalized when referring to a specific office or title; The plural can be 'ombudsmen' or 'ombudspersons'
2. A person employed by a private organization or company to handle customer complaints and disputes.
Usage: Modern usage; increasingly common in corporate and institutional contexts

Examples

• The ombudsman investigated the citizen's complaint about unfair treatment by the city government.
• She filed a report with the state ombudsman after her insurance claim was denied.
• The university hired an ombudsman to address student grievances.
• The ombudsman's office found evidence of misconduct in the police department.
• Many large corporations now employ an ombudsman to resolve customer disputes.
• The ombudsman recommended policy changes to prevent future violations.
• Citizens can contact the ombudsman for free if they believe they have been treated unjustly.