recourse (C2)

noun

Pronunciation: /rɪˈkɔːrs/

Definition

A source of help or a course of action available to someone in a difficult situation.

Examples

• Legal action is often the final recourse for those seeking compensation for damages.

• They had no recourse but to accept the terms offered by the insurance company.

• The contract provides the buyer with legal recourse if the product is found to be defective.

How to Use recourse

have recourse to (prepositional phrase)

to use something as a way of solving a problem — "We had to have recourse to legal action to settle the dispute."

without recourse to (prepositional phrase)

without needing to use or rely on something — "The company managed to resolve the crisis without recourse to external funding."

Synonyms of recourse

Words with a similar meaning to recourse:

• help
• option
• remedy
• resort

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