always used before a noun
1
: only or single
He became the sole heir to the property.
the sole owner
The sole aim/objective/purpose of the program is to help the poor.
She was the sole survivor of the tragedy.
Icy roads were the sole cause of the accident.
2
: belonging only to the person or group specified
She has the sole authority to hire new staff members. [=only she can hire new staff members]
He has sole jurisdiction of the area.
plural soles
1
: the bottom part of the foot
2
: the part of a shoe, boot, etc., that touches the ground
shoes with slippery soles
heavy boots with thick rubber soles
soles; soled; soling
: to put a new sole on (a shoe, boot, etc.)
My shoes need to be soled.
Cite this Entry
“Sole.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sole. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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