Solely is an adverb that refers to something being done or existing without the influence, assistance, or involvement of anyone or anything else. It denotes exclusivity or singularity in terms of purpose, responsibility, or focus. When something is solely responsible for a particular outcome, it means it is the only factor accountable for that result and no other factors influenced it.
The term also highlights the absence of any other elements or considerations, emphasizing the narrowness or lack of variety. If a decision is made solely on the basis of cost, for example, it means that cost is the only factor taken into account, excluding any other factors like quality or availability. Similarly, if someone states that a theory is based solely on empirical evidence, it indicates that the theory was derived only from data and observations, without considering any other forms of knowledge or reasoning.
In legal contexts, solely can be used to emphasize exclusive ownership or singular control over something. For instance, if a person owns a property solely, it means they have complete ownership of it without any co-owners. Additionally, the adverb can be employed to emphasize individuality or exclusiveness, such as a group of people who share solely the same nationality, meaning they have no other shared characteristics except their nationality. Overall, solely signifies something existing or being done in isolation, without any associated or accompanying factors.
