sole role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sole role" is a perfectly acceptable part of written English.
You can use it to refer to the only job or responsibility of someone or something, e.g. "The cat's sole role in the house is to keep the mice away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Donald Trump's sole role was in marketing.

The Guardian

Their sole role in life will be to take all that irritating pressure off me.

The Guardian

In other words, their sole role now is to guarantee and securitize mortgages.

The New York Times

As a function of anion type, the glass transition temperature plays a dominant role, but not the sole role in determining ion conductivity.

Polymer

And Mr. Fellas, who was inside, said that he was not Evdin's general director, but "a nominee director" whose sole role was to register the company.

The New York Times

Unlike the Fed, which is required by law to promote employment while keeping prices stable, the European Central Bank's sole role is that of a sentinel against inflation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr. Angle, in the sole male role at both performances, made a fine impression with his beautifully soft jumps.

The New York Times - Arts

The sole constructive role for America is to negotiate such compromises that can lead to a stable democracy.

The New York Times

A public appearance by Parker in front of the Commons home affairs committee would have implications for the sole oversight role claimed by the ISC.

The Guardian

"We wanted somebody that had a certain effervescence about her," says Rupert Wyatt of what is effectively his film's sole female role.

Independent

Used as the bedrock for much of Thumper's buoyant personality, Behn's sole screen role, which he hid from everyone for years (easy to do when you're uncredited), set the template for the "comedy sidekick" role that persists in movies, though most recent examples lack the easy charm of a natural, untrained kid at play.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sole role", ensure that the context clearly indicates that there are no other responsibilities or functions associated with the subject. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "sole role" when the subject has additional minor responsibilities. If there are other functions, even if secondary, consider using phrases like "primary role" or "main function" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole role" functions as a noun phrase and is used to define the single and exclusive purpose or responsibility of a person, object, or entity. Ludwig AI confirms this is perfectly acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sole role" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the single, exclusive function or responsibility of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted in written English. The phrase is used to emphasize a single responsibility, unlike "primary role", which indicates a main responsibility among others. "Sole role" is most frequently found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using "sole role", ensure it accurately reflects the complete lack of additional responsibilities to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only function

This alternative replaces "role" with "function", emphasizing the practical purpose of something.

primary responsibility

This alternative highlights the main duty or obligation associated with a task or position.

exclusive purpose

This alternative stresses the singular aim or reason for something's existence or action.

unique task

This phrase emphasizes that the task is not only the only one, but also is unlike others.

main function

This option shifts the emphasis to the principal function, suggesting a key responsibility.

only responsibility

This option highlights duty, suggesting there are no other responsibilities.

principal task

This focuses on the lead task for a situation, but leaves space for it to have others.

central function

This alternative suggests that the activity is essential and core.

chief duty

This alternative emphasizes the main obligation.

key responsibility

This alternative suggests the function is a important responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "sole role" in a sentence?

Use "sole role" to emphasize that someone or something has only one responsibility or function. For example, "The European Central Bank's "sole role" is to maintain price stability".

What phrases can I use instead of "sole role"?

Alternatives include "only function", "primary responsibility", or "exclusive purpose", depending on the context you want to emphasize.

Is it correct to say "the only role" instead of "sole role"?

While "the only role" is grammatically correct, "sole role" is often preferred for its emphasis on the exclusivity of the function. "Sole" implies there are absolutely no other functions, whereas "the only" can sometimes be interpreted more loosely.

What is the difference between "primary role" and "sole role"?

"Primary role" indicates the main or most important function, whereas "sole role" indicates the only function. Use "sole role" when there are no other responsibilities involved.