オンブズマン
解説 Definition
ombudsman は、市民や利用者からの苦情を調べ、公正な解決を助ける「オンブズマン」という意味です。日本語のカタカナ語と近い意味ですが、英語では行政機関だけでなく企業や大学などの相談・監視役にも使われます。
An ombudsman is an independent official who receives and investigates complaints about an organization, public authority, company, or institution and helps seek a fair resolution. The role may also identify procedural problems and recommend corrective action.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
ombudsman は行政だけでなく、会社・大学などで苦情を独立に調べ、公正な解決を助ける役職です。contact the ombudsman、review a complaint、handle concerns independently を一組で覚えましょう。語源の中心は「委任を受けた代理人」で、単なる相談員より監視・調査の独立性が重要です。
Think of an ombudsman as an independent person entrusted to examine complaints fairly. Link the word with three practical expressions: contact the ombudsman, review a complaint, and handle concerns independently. The role exists not only in government but also in universities, companies, and other institutions. Unlike an ordinary customer-service representative, an ombudsman is expected to provide impartial review and may recommend changes when rules or procedures have been applied unfairly. The shorter, gender-neutral form ombuds is also used.
例文
The ombudsman reviewed the complaint carefully.
オンブズマンはその苦情を慎重に調査しました。
Students can contact the ombudsman if they feel a rule was applied unfairly.
学生は規則が不公平に適用されたと感じた場合、オンブズマンに連絡できます。
The company appointed an ombudsman to handle employee concerns independently.
その会社は従業員の懸念を独立して扱うためにオンブズマンを任命しました。
ombudsman の類義語・関連語
ombudsman の語源・成り立ち Etymology
スウェーデン語 ombudsman に由来し、古ノルド語 umboðsmaðr が源。umboð（委任・代理権）+ maðr（人）で「代理人」の意。1809年スウェーデンで市民の苦情を調査する公的役職として制度化され、世界に広まった。関連語：ombuds（オンブズ）。
Ombudsman was borrowed from Swedish ombudsman, meaning a representative or authorized agent. It ultimately reflects Old Norse umboðsmaðr, built from a word for commission or delegated authority and maðr, “person” or “man.” Sweden established a parliamentary ombudsman office in 1809 to examine complaints involving public administration. The term then spread internationally and broadened to similar independent roles in companies, universities, and other institutions.
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