sole
B1Neutral to formal, depending on sense.
Definition
Meaning
The only one of something; the bottom surface of a foot or shoe.
Exclusive right or responsibility (e.g., sole distributor); a type of flatfish; the underside or base of an object.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Three main senses: 1) exclusive/single (adj.), 2) underside of foot/shoe (n.), 3) a flatfish (n.). The adjective is often used in legal, business, or formal contexts to denote exclusivity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Spelling identical.
Connotations
Both varieties share the same connotations of exclusivity (adjective) and base/foundation (noun).
Frequency
All senses are common in both varieties. The fish name is equally known in coastal regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be + sole + noun (She is the sole owner)have + sole + noun (They have sole custody)verb + the sole of + noun (He examined the sole of his shoe)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head (completely)”
- “to have sole charge of (to be solely responsible for)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for exclusive rights or ownership (e.g., 'sole distributor', 'sole proprietor').
Academic
Used to denote a single factor or cause (e.g., 'the sole determinant').
Everyday
Commonly refers to the bottom of a shoe or foot (e.g., 'The sole of my boot is worn').
Technical
In anatomy: plantar surface; in ichthyology: a species of flatfish (Solea solea).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cobbler will sole and heel these boots.
- We need to sole these shoes before the winter.
American English
- He resoled his favorite work boots.
- The company soles all its shoes with durable rubber.
adjective
British English
- She is the sole beneficiary of the will.
- His sole motive was to help.
American English
- He has sole custody of the children.
- The sole reason for the change is cost.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a hole in the sole of my shoe.
- She is the sole girl in the class.
- He is the sole owner of the company.
- The sole purpose of this meeting is to plan the trip.
- As the sole survivor, she bore the heavy responsibility of recounting the events.
- The contract grants them sole distribution rights for the region.
- The judge ruled that the defendant's sole culpability could not be established beyond reasonable doubt.
- The chef prepared a delicate dish of Dover sole with a beurre blanc sauce.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'SOLE' plate at the bottom of your shOE, or that you are the SOLE (only) person with that shOE style.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNIQUENESS IS BEING ALONE (sole heir). FOUNDATION/SUPPORT IS A BASE (sole of the foot).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'soul' (/səʊl/ vs /səʊl/ - homophones). 'Sole' as adjective is not 'солнечный' (sunny). 'Sole' as noun (fish) is 'морской язык'. The adjective 'sole' often corresponds to 'единственный' or 'исключительный'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is the soul owner.' (Correct: 'sole'). Incorrect: 'We had a sole purpose party.' (Ambiguous, potentially confusing with 'soul').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'sole' used as a noun referring to a part of the body?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'sole' (only/bottom/fish) and 'soul' (spirit) are perfect homophones in both British and American English (/səʊl/ and /soʊl/).
Yes, though less common. It means to fit a shoe with a new sole (e.g., 'I need to get my boots soled').
As adjectives, they are often synonymous. However, 'sole' is more formal and often implies legal or official exclusivity (sole rights, sole heir). 'Only' is more general and common in everyday speech.
Yes, 'solely' is the adverb form derived from the adjective 'sole,' meaning 'exclusively' or 'only.' (e.g., 'He was solely responsible.')
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