recourses

Recourse refers to a source of help, remedy, or option that a person or entity may pursue when faced with a problem. The term emphasizes turning to an authority, mechanism, or resource for relief. While resources typically denote assets, materials, or capabilities, recourse describes the action of seeking remedy or redress. The plural form recourses is used occasionally when listing multiple avenues of remedy; in everyday usage, the singular recourse is more common.

Etymology: Recourse comes from Old French recours, from recourir "to run back, to appeal," and entered English in the Middle Ages. The concept has long been used in law, finance, and general discourse to denote a remedy or option sought in response to loss or grievance.

Legal and financial usage: In legal contexts, recourse denotes the right to seek a remedy through courts, arbitration, mediation, or other mechanisms; for example, a plaintiff has recourse to damages, restitution, or injunctions. In finance, recourse affects creditors’ remedies: recourse loans permit the lender to claim repayment from the borrower's other assets beyond the collateral; non-recourse loans limit the lender to the collateral. The phrase "with recourse to" also appears to indicate an available remedy.

Usage notes: The form recourses (plural) is rarer and tends to appear when distinguishing multiple potential remedies or appeals. In most contexts, recourse is treated as a noncount noun. See also resources, remedy, and liability.