recourse

[ree-kawrs, -kohrs, ri-kawrs, -kohrs]

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.

recourse

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of recourse¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of recourse¹

C14: from Old French recours , from Late Latin recursus a running back, from _re- + currere to run

Example Sentences

Horror stories are easy to find - and because of the US's light regulation, there's often no legal recourse when things go wrong.

From BBC

"Rogue traders frequently dissolve their companies to avoid liability leaving consumers with little recourse," she said.

From BBC

That leaves average Joes at a growing risk of being impersonated online, with little recourse.

From Los Angeles Times

“When the very institutions meant to protect and deliver justice become perpetrators of torture and abuse, they leave citizens with no recourse,” the plaintiffs said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

And if it does, it does not mean there’s no recourse to protect our civil rights — the people still have power.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• remedy