sole

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

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See synonyms for: sole / soles / soleness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

being the only one; only: the sole living relative.

being the only one of the kind; unsurpassed; unique; matchless: the sole brilliance of the gem.

belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive: the sole right to the estate.

functioning automatically or with independent power: the sole authority.

Chiefly Law. not married; unmarried.

without company or companions; lonely: the sole splendor of her life.

Archaic. alone.

OTHER WORDS FOR sole

1 solitary.

2 individual.

See synonyms for sole on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of sole

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sol(e), soul(e) “unmarried, single, alone,” from Old French sol, sol(e), sul, from Latin sōlus “alone, on one's own, lonely”

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

soleness, noun

Words nearby sole

soldiers' home, Soldier's Medal, soldiery, soldo, sold-out, sole, sole-charge school, solecism, sole custody, solely, solemn

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole²

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

noun

the bottom or under surface of the foot.

the corresponding under part of a shoe, boot, or the like, or this part exclusive of the heel.

the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything.

Carpentry.

the underside of a plane.
soleplate.

Golf. the part of the head of the club that touches the ground.

verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.

to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.

Golf. to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke.

Origin of sole

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (noun) sole, sol(le), from Old French sole, sol(le), soul, from Vulgar Latin, Medieval Latin sola, from Latin solea “plain sandal (fastened with thongs); sole (fish); foundation (timber),” derivative of solum “base, floor, bottom”

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

soleless, adjective

Other definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole³

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.

any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout.

Origin of sole

First recorded in 1250–1300; see origin at sole²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sole in a sentence

In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company was renamed for WD-40, which by then was its sole product.
20 ingenious uses for WD-40|By Bill Heavey/Field & Stream|February 11, 2021|Popular-Science
His sole visit to the region was the 2018 G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.
The U.S. and China Are Battling for Influence in Latin America, and the Pandemic Has Raised the Stakes|Charlie Campell/Beijing|February 4, 2021|Time
Sanchez, a Democrat, was the sole vote against Jensen’s appointment.
North County Report: Appointment of New Oceanside Leader Making Waves|Kayla Jimenez|February 4, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Hughes has long touted his sole focus on representing tenants.
How a Volunteer Helped Get the City Into Its Biggest Real Estate Debacle|Lisa Halverstadt|January 29, 2021|Voice of San Diego

The research suggests that groups like QAnon are based on a worldview that extends beyond one sole prediction.
What Comes Next For QAnon Followers|Kaleigh Rogers|January 29, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Jourdan Dunn is the first sole black woman to feature on a British ‘Vogue’ cover in 12 years.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It stands for the proposition that the biological basis of procreation should also be the sole organizing principle of society.
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No wonder criminal-justice reform is no longer the sole concern of balladeers and bleeding hearts.
Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On|Tina Brown|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well, so much for Obama being the sole culprit for why we think America is on the wrong track.
We've Been on the Wrong Track Since 1972|Dean Obeidallah|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A moment ago the drawing-room had seemed empty; Mrs. Luke, in her sole person, filled and illuminated it.
The Best-Dressed Way to Say Goodbye|Justin Jones|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
There was a time when Aristide Pujol, in sole charge of an automobile, went gaily scuttering over the roads of France.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
It is to be feared that the attractions of the house-dinner were not the sole inducement to many of those sitting there.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
It was well that Monsieur de Biancourt was wiser than many of his crew, whose sole cry was to kill them all.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ellis's patent boot studs to save the sole, and the Euknemida, or concave-convex fastening springs, are the latest novelties.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

sole¹

/ (səʊl) /

adjective

(prenominal) being the only one; only

(prenominal) of or relating to one individual or group and no othersole rights on a patent

law having no wife or husbandSee also feme sole

an archaic word for solitary

Derived forms of sole

soleness, noun

Word Origin for sole

C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole²

/ (səʊl) /

noun

the underside of the footRelated adjectives: plantar, volar

the underside of a shoe

the bottom of a furrow
the bottom of a plough

the underside of a golf-club head

the bottom of an oven, furnace, etc

verb (tr)

to provide (a shoe) with a sole

golf to rest (the club) on the ground, as when preparing to make a stroke

Derived forms of sole

soleless, adjective

Word Origin for sole

C14: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole³

/ (səʊl) /

noun plural sole or soles

any tongue-shaped flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp Solea solea (European sole): most common in warm seas and highly valued as food fishes

any of certain other similar fishes

Word Origin for sole

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sole

OTHER WORDS FOR sole

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Words nearby sole

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Other definitions for sole (3 of 3)

Origin of sole

Words related to sole

How to use sole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

Word Origin for sole