sole discretion

USAGE SUMMARY

"sole discretion" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a decision being left in the hands of one particular person or entity. For example, "The company reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant at its sole discretion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

SIPC has sole discretion to the election of a trustee".

The New York Times

In the event of misconduct, an employee's job may be terminated at PDC's sole discretion.

The New York Times

We may suspend terminate or prevent your registration at our sole discretion.

Independent

Wynn's articles of incorporation allow the company's board to make this decision "in their sole discretion".

The New York Times

Publication will be at the Promoter's sole discretion – unfortunately we cannot publish all photographs submitted.

The Guardian

GNM may, at its sole discretion, edit and re-publish the Features.

The Guardian - Travel

This assessment will be made by the member clubs in their sole discretion.

The New York Times - Sports

Our view is that the executive … has the sole discretion to decide policies for the government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Almost $14 billion is spent at the sole discretion of Chávez.

The New York Times - Magazine

These plans would have "sole discretion" over what services to cover.

The New York Times

The contract allows the law school to terminate junior faculty, with sufficient notice, in its "sole discretion".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase after a possessive noun or pronoun (e.g., "at the Board's sole discretion" or "in its sole discretion") to clearly identify who holds the power.

Common error

Do not use redundant phrases like "only sole discretion" or "individual sole discretion". The word "sole" already communicates that the power belongs to a single entity. Using extra modifiers complicates the sentence without adding legal or linguistic value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole discretion" functions as an adjective-noun phrase typically used within a prepositional phrase (at/in/by someone's sole discretion). According to Ludwig AI, it acts as a qualifier that establishes the boundaries of decision-making power, often serving as a legal safeguard to prevent ambiguity regarding who has the final word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sole discretion" is a highly effective and widely recognized linguistic tool for defining unilateral decision-making power. Ludwig AI confirms its extensive use in professional environments, particularly within legal contracts and corporate policy statements where clarity is paramount. It is grammatically sound, consistently used by authoritative sources and carries a high degree of formality. Whether in a business agreement or a news report about executive actions, using "sole discretion" ensures that the reader understands that the authority in question is absolute and belongs to a single entity without the need for consensus or outside approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclusive discretion

Maintains the high level of formality while emphasizing that no other party shares the power.

sole determination

Shifts the focus from the freedom to choose toward the finality of the outcome.

sole judgment

Implies a cognitive or evaluative process behind the decision rather than just a choice.

unilateral decision

Often carries a more clinical or sometimes negative connotation of acting alone without consultation.

full authority

Focuses on the breadth of power granted rather than the specific act of choosing.

sole choice

A less formal and more direct version suitable for general contexts.

independent decision

Emphasizes the lack of outside influence or pressure.

final say

An idiomatic and less formal alternative common in spoken English.

absolute power

A much stronger term that suggests total control beyond mere administrative choice.

at will

Often used in employment contexts to describe the ability to terminate an agreement without cause.

FAQs

How do I use "sole discretion" in a sentence?

In formal writing, you can use it to denote authority, such as: "The manager reserves the right to approve expenses at his sole discretion".

What is a more formal way to say "sole discretion"?

You can use the alternative "exclusive discretion" to maintain a highly professional tone.

Can I use "sole judgment" instead?

Yes, "sole judgment" is a valid alternative, though it implies a more evaluative process than simply having the right to choose.

What is the difference between "sole discretion" and "sole authority"?

While "sole discretion" refers to the freedom to make a choice, "sole authority" refers to the legal or structural right to exercise that power.