diligence
1 Americannoun
-
constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
-
Law. the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.
-
Obsolete. care; caution.
noun
noun
-
steady and careful application
-
proper attention or care
-
law the degree of care required in a given situation
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing diligence
Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week In Words: August 24–30, 2019
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“He grew more confident with each pass on his drawing, and realized ... that much of the rightness of the drawing, of any drawing, came through time and diligence and discernment.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Asked about the Vulcan deal being expedited, the Pentagon spokesperson said defense officials balance “lightning speed with rigorous diligence to close high-impact deals that directly strengthen America’s defense and empower our warfighters.”
From Salon • May 31, 2026
A World Liberty spokesman said Tuesday the company “has held compliance as its highest priority and we meet or exceed industry standard protocols for due diligence on all relevant counterparties.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
He adds that this raises "serious questions about corporate responsibility and due diligence in politically sensitive and illegally occupied territories".
From BBC • May 24, 2026
Tycho was supposed to study law in Leipzig, and he did this work with reasonable diligence.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
