recourse

American  

[ree-kawrs, -kohrs, ri-kawrs, -kohrs] / ˈri kɔrs, -koʊrs, rɪˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs /

noun

1. access or resort to a person or thing for help or protection.

   to have recourse to the courts for justice.

2. a person or thing resorted to for help or protection.

3. the right to collect from a maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument. The endorser may add the words “without recourse” on the instrument, thereby transferring the instrument without assuming any liability.

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recourse British  

/ rɪˈkɔːs /

noun

1. the act of resorting to a person, course of action, etc, in difficulty or danger (esp in the phrase have recourse to )

2. a person, organization, or course of action that is turned to for help, protection, etc

3. the right to demand payment, esp from the drawer or endorser of a bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument when the person accepting it fails to pay

4. a qualified endorsement on such a negotiable instrument, by which the endorser protects himself or herself from liability to subsequent holders

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Etymology

Origin of recourse

1350–1400; Middle English recours < Old French < Late Latin recursus, Latin: return, retreat, noun use of past participle of recurrere to run back; recur

Example Sentences

Of course nominees and winners have opinions about politics, science, social issues, international conflict and those suffering without recourse or voice — that’s why they make movies.

From Los Angeles Times

And it argued that even as Costco, along with scores of other businesses, seeks tariff-related refunds for themselves in court, the consumers who ultimately shouldered those higher prices had no clear recourse.

From MarketWatch

Tech companies like Google and Meta are not the only recourse for the federal government to surveil social media users.

From Salon

Tilit hasn’t pursued legal recourse, she said, but “it’s definitely something now to look into.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Many of the people who contacted the BBC also said they felt they had no recourse to justice for side effects they say they weren't properly warned about.

From BBC

Related Words

• remedy