diligence

1 of 2

noun (1)

dil·​i·​gence ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s 

1

a

: steady, earnest, and energetic effort : persistent and careful hard work

showed great diligence in tracking down the story

He had earned universal respect for his integrity, fairness, and diligence.

—John L. Sanders

b

obsolete : speed, haste

Go, hence with diligence!

—Shakespeare

2

law : the attention, effort, and care legally expected or required of a person (such as a party to a contract) see also due diligence

diligence

2 of 2

noun (2)

di·​li·​gence ˈdi-lə-ˌzhäⁿs  ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s 

archaic : stagecoach

The railway had driven coach companies out of business. … Once, the journey had taken three days by diligence.

—Graham Robb

Synonyms of diligence

Noun (1)

• effort
• assiduity
• persistence
• industry
• industriousness
• assiduousness
• attentiveness
• attention

Examples of diligence in a Sentence

Noun (1)

through the diligence and ingenuity of a single detective, the gang's ringleader was finally caught

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Companies that demonstrate operational readiness reduce execution risk, accelerate diligence and often command stronger valuations. — Brian Waller, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

A little diligence now can be the difference between a debt that quietly expires and one that follows you for years longer than the law actually allows. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

For all its characteristic restraint and formal diligence, Killing Spree is a book that wants to make noise, to cut through the dead air with cries of grief and rage, undoing our own savage torpor. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Positive qualities—promptness, diligence, cheerfulness—sped up your ascent through the ranks; negative ones—laziness, dissipation, late mornings—slowed it down. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin diligentia, from diligent-, diligens — see diligent

Noun (2)

French, literally, haste, from Middle French, persevering application

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1742, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing diligence

• due diligence

Kids Definition

diligence

noun

dil·​i·​gence

ˈdil-ə-jən(t)s

: careful and continued work : industry

Legal Definition

diligence

noun

dil·​i·​gence ˈdi-lə-jəns 

: earnest and persistent application of effort especially as required by law

also : care sense 1 see also due diligence