recourse

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈɹiːkɔɹs/ UK /ɹɪˈkɔːs/ See IPA manual

Freq #26753

Meanings

1

noun
The use of someone or something for help in a difficult situation.

With no money left, his only recourse was to ask his family for help.
2

noun
The right or option of turning to a source of help or remedy.

Customers have legal recourse if the product proves faulty.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the use of someone or... refuge resort

More repeat

Word family

Forms recourses

Derived forms nonrecourserecoursefulrecourseless

Related forms recurrecursionrecursive

Etymology

From Middle English recours (noun) and recoursen (verb), from Old French recours, from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrō.

*ḱers- Proto-Indo-European recours Middle English recursus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# recourse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹiːkɔɹs/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹɪˈkɔːs/
**Frequency rank:** 26753

## Meanings
1. The use of someone or something for help in a difficult situation.
2. The right or option of turning to a source of help or remedy.

## Examples
- With no money left, his only recourse was to ask his family for help.
- Customers have legal recourse if the product proves faulty.

## Synonyms
- repeat

## Derived Forms
- nonrecourse
- recourseful
- recourseless

## Related Forms
- recur
- recursion
- recursive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ḱers-
- Root: recours
- Root: recursus

## Etymology
From Middle English recours (noun) and recoursen (verb), from Old French recours, from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrō.

## AI Etymology
Recourse is from Middle English recours (noun) and recoursen (verb), from Old French recours, from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrō. Important recorded forms include *ḱers- (Proto-Indo-European), recours (Middle English), recours (Old French), and recursus (Latin). Current senses include the use of someone or something for help in a difficult situation and the right or option of turning to a source of help or remedy. The wider family includes derived forms such as nonrecourse, recourseful, and recourseless; related words such as recur, recursion, and recursive.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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