diligence

1 of 2

noun (1)

dil·​i·​gence ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce diligence (audio)
Synonyms of diligence
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 How to pronounce diligence (audio) ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce diligence (audio)
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

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Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Until the industry is regulated, the best protection for your dog is your own diligence. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 This expands access to accredited and HNWIs while maintaining institutional-grade diligence. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Catching up on his savings while managing two mortgages and raising a child takes diligence. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 7 July 2026 For example, does the compensation include a value for the time needed to go through the claim process rather than attending to other tasks or the extra diligence expended to minimize the losses? — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for diligence

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of diligence was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing diligence

Browse Nearby Words

Dili
diligence
diligencia
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Cite this Entry

“Diligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligence. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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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 How to pronounce diligence (audio)
: earnest and persistent application of effort especially as required by law
also : care sense 1 see also due diligence

More from Merriam-Webster on diligence

Nglish: Translation of diligence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diligence

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