diligence
1 Americannoun
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constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
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Law. the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.
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Obsolete. care; caution.
noun
plural
diligencesnoun
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steady and careful application
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proper attention or care
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law the degree of care required in a given situation
noun
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; -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
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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
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This Week In Words: August 24–30, 2019
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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.
In February, Bun X announced it would be changing its policy on allergens after "due diligence concluded that there is no safe way to 100% eradicate cross contamination".
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
“Technology can assist legal practice, but it does not replace an attorney’s duty of competence, diligence, and honesty.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Leggett & Platt rejected the offer, but entered a nondisclosure agreement and six-month standstill with Somnigroup to help with the due diligence process and determine whether a deal could be reached.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
The financial strength of the conference is part of the reason some private-equity funds have been doing due diligence on the Big Ten, with hopes to invest in the conference itself.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
Amaranta looked after him with a loving diligence.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
