diligence

¹ American  

[dil-i-juhns] / ˈdɪl ɪ dʒəns /

noun

1. constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

2. Law. the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.

3. Obsolete. care; caution.

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diligence ² American  

[dil-i-juhns, dee-lee-zhahns] / ˈdɪl ɪ dʒəns, di liˈʒɑ̃s /

noun

• diligences
  plural

1. a public stagecoach, especially as formerly used in France.

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diligence ¹ British  

/ ˈdɪlɪdʒəns /

noun

1. steady and careful application

2. proper attention or care

3. law the degree of care required in a given situation

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diligence ² British  

/ diliʒɑ̃s, ˈdɪlɪdʒəns /

noun

1. history a stagecoach

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• diligences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of diligence¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deligence, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīligentia, equivalent to dīligent- (stem of dīligēns ) diligent ( def. ) + -ia; see -ence ( def. )

Origin of diligence²

First recorded in 1735–45; short for French carosse de diligence “speed coach”

Explanation

If you practice diligence, you are a hard and careful worker. Do you have the diligence to read all the collected works of Henry James? Of course not. Nobody has, but a couple of his early novels won't hurt. Here's a tip: never buy anything big, like a house or a car or a boat, without first exercising what lawyers call "due diligence" — that is, a real degree of care and attention and effort, not to mention a close reading of the small print. Diligence may help you realize the Brooklyn Bridge is not actually yours to buy, or that your potential neighbor has 112 cats living next door.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diligence diligences

Don’t let a fancy offer document bedazzle you and deter your due diligence.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Don’t let a fancy offer document bedazzle you and stop you from doing your due diligence.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

The country’s legislature recently expanded anti-money-laundering laws to impose stricter due diligence requirements and push companies to collect more information on their controlling ownership, among other measures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

The results of the diligence completed by City's data team, scouts and other experts meant that even though Anderson's price increased beyond what City believed was his true valuation, they felt the risk was low.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Now, it looked as if my foresight and diligence were about to pay off.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

One of the due diligences will include on the safety culture in Newcrest mines, the company said.

From Reuters ● Apr. 27, 2023

There were also two or three omnibuses and diligences waiting to receive such persons as were intending to travel by the public conveyances.

From Rollo in Geneva by Jacob Abbott

There is no necessity for hiring a private carriage, as there is a regular service of diligences the whole way.

From An Impromptu Ascent of Mont Blanc by W. H. le Mesurier

The public diligences are few in number, and most miserably managed.

From Travels in France during the years 1814-15 Comprising a residence at Paris, during the stay of the allied armies, and at Aix, at the period of the landing of Bonaparte, in two volumes. by Sir Archibald Alison

At stated times diligences run the twelve miles between Palma and Valldemosa, and the charge is only sevenpence-halfpenny.

From The Fortunate Isles Life and Travel in Majorca, Minorca and Iviza by Mary Stuart Boyd

Related Words

• alertness
• earnestness
• intensity
• quickness
• vigor