diligence

1 of 2

noun (1)

dil·​i·​gence ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce diligence (audio)
1
a
: steady, earnest, and energetic effort : devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking : assiduity
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 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)

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

Examples of diligence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Her academic achievements are a testament to her diligence and intellectual curiosity, setting an example for her peers. Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 Lowball Offers What feels like diligence to hiring managers under pressure can seem like unfairness to job candidates. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 Hallucinations are a legitimate challenge to overcome, and the world of deepfakes only reinforces the need for greater diligence and caution. Ram Chakravarti, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Orr’s ascent was also a product of diligence, ability and a deep love for the organization. Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024 But with diligence and care, the band has slowly refined and reframed its legacy. Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 8 Feb. 2024 Despite commendable efforts, achieving equitable assistance distribution across all communities remains a complex task, requiring continuous diligence in meeting the dynamic needs of the county’s diverse populace. Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2024 Self-reporting them is considered a positive sign of diligence and integrity, as opposed to not reporting them at all to avoid scrutiny. USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Sonnenfeld, who served on the National Commission on University Governance Reform of the Association of Government Boards of Colleges and Universities, wrote that Harvard’s search process lacked proper diligence. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diligence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near diligence

Cite this Entry

“Diligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!