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. without recourse
   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

Sometimes, her bosses paid her less than she was owed, knowing that because she lacked legal status, she had little recourse to complain.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, you may say there is still what they call in the law a recourse: Trump could be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors” and removed from office.

From Salon

If you lost your bearer bond or if it was stolen, you had no recourse - unless you could prove that it had been stolen.

From Salon

You have little to no recourse, because under United States law, law enforcement officers — all of them — have no obligation to keep people safe.

From Salon

With laws barring government officials from entering homes without a warrant, the city had little recourse beyond papering the home with violations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• remedy