recourse
gb/ɹˈikɔɹs/ us/ɹˈikɔɹs/
C1
English
~ 7100
vkihez/vmihez fordulás, folyamodás, kiút, mentsvár, igényérvényesítési jog, visszkereseti jog
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
to have recourse to [someone/something]
Citizens who feel they were treated unfairly have recourse to the courts.
Azok az állampolgárok, akik úgy érzik, hogy tisztességtelenül bántak velük, bírósághoz fordulhatnak.
When negotiations failed, they had no recourse but to file a formal complaint.
Miután a tárgyalások kudarcot vallottak, nem maradt más lehetőségük, mint hogy hivatalos panaszt tegyenek.
If the product is defective, your only recourse is to contact customer service.
Employees have recourse to internal mediation if conflicts cannot be resolved informally.
Without a written contract, she had little recourse when the company refused to pay.
Learner examples
If the hotel is very bad, you have recourse to the travel company.
Ha a szálloda nagyon rossz, az utazási irodához fordulhatsz.
When the car broke again, his only recourse was to call a mechanic.
Amikor az autó megint lerobbant, az egyetlen lehetősége az volt, hogy szerelőt hívjon.
The students had recourse to the school director when the teacher was unfair.
People without money often have little recourse when they lose their jobs.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "recourse" with "resource" or "resort." "Recourse" is usually about an action (turning to someone for help), often in the pattern "have recourse to [something]." Do not say *"recourse of"* or *"recourse for"* in this sense. Also, avoid using it for places of fun or holidays; that is "resort."
Meaning
turning to help or protection
Collocations
have recourse to
|seek recourse
|legal recourse
|recourse to the courts
|recourse to violence
|recourse to force
Synonyms
resort (Often used in the phrase "as a last resort"; slightly less formal than "recourse".)
Antonyms
self-reliance (Emphasizes solving problems without turning to outside help.)
Themes
society
|law
|problems
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
the act of going to someone or something for help or protection when you have a problem
The act of turning to a person, organization, or thing for help, protection, or a solution in a difficult situation.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s only recourse is [something]
For many families, borrowing from relatives is their last recourse.
Sok család számára a rokonoktól való kölcsönkérés az utolsó kiút.
When the landlord refused to act, the tenants' only recourse was the local housing authority.
Amikor a főbérbeadó nem volt hajlandó intézkedni, a bérlők egyetlen kiútja a helyi lakásügyi hatóság volt.
In remote areas, traditional healers are often the first recourse for illness.
With no savings and no recourse to credit, she was forced to sell her belongings.
International courts are sometimes the final recourse for victims of human rights abuses.
Learner examples
The police were his only recourse after the attack.
A támadás után a rendőrség volt az egyetlen mentsvára.
With no job and no recourse, he moved back to his parents.
Mivel nem volt munkája, és semmilyen kiútja nem maradt, visszaköltözött a szüleihez.
For many people, the internet is the first recourse for information.
Without friends or family, she had little recourse in the new city.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to say *"my recourse is to"* as if "recourse" were a verb. "Recourse" is a noun; use patterns like "my only recourse is [noun/verb-ing]" or "I have no recourse." Also, do not confuse with "resource," which is a useful supply (money, time, materials), not an option for action.
Meaning
a source or option for help
Collocations
only recourse
|last recourse
|final recourse
|first recourse
|sole recourse
|have no recourse
Synonyms
option (More general and less formal; does not always imply difficulty or seeking protection.)
Antonyms
dead end (Suggests there is no way forward and no helpful option available.)
Themes
society
|problems
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
a person or thing you can use to get help or protection when you have a problem
A person, organization, or thing that someone can use as a source of help, protection, or a solution when facing difficulty.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[something] is with/without recourse to [someone]
The investors had no recourse against the bank once they signed the waiver.
Miután aláírták a jogról való lemondó nyilatkozatot, a befektetők nem érvényesíthettek igényt a bankkal szemben.
This is a non-recourse loan, meaning the lender has recourse only to the collateral, not to your other assets.
Ez egy visszkereset nélküli hitel, vagyis a hitelező csak a fedezetre tarthat igényt, a többi vagyonodra nem.
If the check is dishonored, the payee has recourse against the drawer under the law.
The contract limits the company's recourse to the insurance policy in the event of a loss.
Tenants may have legal recourse if the landlord fails to provide safe living conditions.
Learner examples
If the company breaks the contract, you have legal recourse in court.
Ha a cég megszegi a szerződést, bíróságon jogi úton érvényesítheted az igényedet.
In a non-recourse loan, the bank cannot take your other property.
Visszkereset nélküli hitelnél a bank nem veheti el a többi vagyonodat.
The buyer has recourse against the seller if the car is not as described.
Workers sometimes have no recourse when their employers pay them late.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "recourse" here as if it meant any complaint. In legal and financial contexts, it specifically means a right to claim payment or a remedy, especially in fixed phrases like "with recourse" and "without recourse." Also, "non-recourse" modifies "loan" and does not mean "no help" in general situations.
Meaning
legal right to claim payment
Collocations
legal recourse
|with recourse
|without recourse
|full recourse
|limited recourse
|recourse against [someone]
Synonyms
redress (Formal legal term focusing on receiving compensation or remedy, rather than the existence of the right itself.)
Antonyms
waiver (Indicates the giving up of a legal right to claim or seek remedy.)
Themes
law
|business
|finance
Definition
a legal right to ask another person or company to pay money or fix a problem, usually because of a contract or loan
In law and finance, the legal right to demand payment, compensation, or performance from another party, especially when a debt is unpaid or a guarantee has been given.
Grammar
Dictionary form
recourse
IPA
GB/ɹˈikɔɹs/
US/ɹˈikɔɹs/
Syllables & stress
re - course (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (re)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: recourse
- Plural: recourse, recourses
Word family
Forms
recourses
noun
Expressions
have recourse to
1/hˈæv ɹˈikɔɹs tə/
fixed phrase
formal
turn to for help or protection
to go to someone or something for help or protection when you have a problem
Examples
- If negotiations fail, we may have recourse to international arbitration.
- Many low-income families have recourse to social services in times of crisis.
- Citizens have recourse to an ombudsman if their complaints are ignored.
last recourse
1/lˈæst ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
formal
final possible option for help
the thing you do or use only after all other options have failed
Examples
- Military action should be a last recourse, not a first choice.
- Bankruptcy is often seen as a last recourse for people with heavy debts.
- For some patients, surgery is a last recourse when other treatments do not work.
legal recourse
1/lˈiɡəl ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
formal
ability to seek remedy in law
the chance to use the law or the courts to solve a problem or get money or justice
Examples
- Consumers who are misled by advertising may have legal recourse.
- The agreement limits your legal recourse to binding arbitration.
- Tenants have legal recourse if the landlord refuses to make essential repairs.
no recourse
1/nˈoʊ ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
formal
no available help or option
no way to get help, protection, or a solution
Examples
- Workers hired informally often have no recourse if they are underpaid.
- Customers found they had no recourse once the company went bankrupt.
- Many refugees feel they have no recourse but to leave their country.
only recourse
1/ˈoʊnli ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
formal
single remaining option for help
the only thing you can do or use to try to solve a problem
Examples
- When the talks collapsed, their only recourse was economic sanctions.
- For many migrants, paying a smuggler is the only recourse they see.
- If the repair fails again, your only recourse will be a full replacement.
with recourse
1/wˈɪθ ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
technical
loan or transfer keeping a legal claim
used about loans or financial deals to mean that the lender can still ask a specific person or company to pay if there is a problem
Examples
- The bank sold the loans to investors with recourse.
- Under a with-recourse agreement, the factor may recover losses from the seller.
- Because the note was endorsed with recourse, the endorser remained liable.
without recourse
1/wɪðˈaʊt ɹˈikɔɹs/
fixed phrase
technical
loan or transfer with no legal claim
used about loans or financial deals to mean that the lender cannot ask a specific person or company to pay if there is a problem
Examples
- The invoice was sold without recourse to a factoring company.
- In a without-recourse arrangement, the buyer of the debt assumes the full risk of non-payment.
- The check was endorsed "without recourse," limiting the endorser's liability.
without recourse to
1/wɪðˈaʊt ɹˈikɔɹs tə/
fixed phrase
formal
without using a certain help
without using or depending on a certain person, thing, or method for help or support
Examples
- The conflict was resolved without recourse to the courts.
- They aim to manage pain without recourse to strong drugs.
- The dispute was settled peacefully, without recourse to force.