recourse
rih-KAWS
Recourse (noun) means an option to turn to for help, especially when other options have failed. Example: “Without insurance, she had no recourse but to pay for the repairs herself.”
noun
1
An option to turn to for help, especially when other options have failed.
"Without insurance, she had no recourse but to pay for the repairs herself."
"Legal recourse is available if the contract is breached."
How to use recourse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of getting help or fixing a problem when you're stuck.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
have recourse to
legal recourse
without recourse
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Word forms
- Plural
- recourses
- Third person singular
- recourses
- Past tense
- recoursed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Without insurance, she had no _____ but to pay for the repairs herself.
Etymology
From Old French recours, from Latin recursus ("a running back").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for recourse
See all rhymes for recourse →Frequently asked questions
What does “recourse” mean?
The word “recourse” means an option to turn to for help, especially when other options have failed. In plain terms, a way of getting help or fixing a problem when you're stuck.
How do you pronounce “recourse”?
“Recourse” is pronounced rih-KAWS (/ˈɹiːkɔɹs/ in IPA).
How do you use “recourse” in a sentence?
Here is “recourse” used in a sentence: “Without insurance, she had no recourse but to pay for the repairs herself.”
What part of speech is “recourse”?
“Recourse” is a noun.
Where does the word “recourse” come from?
The word “recourse” comes from Latin. From Old French recours, from Latin recursus ("a running back").
Is “recourse” a common word?
“Recourse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
