Word
recourse
Phoneticsre·course, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹikɔɹs/
UK/ɹɪkˈɔːs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a way to get help or solve a problem when you are in a difficult situation. It is often the last thing you can do to fix a trouble.
n. the act of turning to someone or something for assistance or protection in a difficult situation. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe a final option for resolution.
Examples
“Your only recourse is to file a formal complaint.”
“If the company refuses to issue a refund, the customer has legal recourse through the small claims court.”
“The treaty was designed to ensure that smaller nations had diplomatic recourse before any military action was considered by the regional powers.”
Examples
simple
“Your only recourse is to file a formal complaint.”
contextual
“If the company refuses to issue a refund, the customer has legal recourse through the small claims court.”
complex
“The treaty was designed to ensure that smaller nations had diplomatic recourse before any military action was considered by the regional powers.”
Usage
Commonly follows the preposition 'without' or is used in the phrase 'have recourse to'.
Real-World Examples
“The Department of State said applicants from those countries were “at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States”.” “Fail to sustain the audience’s interest, however, and you’re stuck without recourse to the bells and whistles that can help jolly things along.” Etymology
From Middle English recours (noun) and recoursen (verb), from Old French recours, from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/recourse