diligence
1 of 2noun (1)
dil·i·gence ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s 
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
John L. Sanders b
obsolete : speed, haste
Go, hence with diligence! Shakespeare
Shakespeare2
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 2noun (2)
di·li·gence ˈdi-lə-ˌzhäⁿs ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s
ˈdi-lə-jən(t)s : stagecoach
The railway had driven coach companies out of business …. Once, the journey had taken three days by diligence. Graham Robb
Graham Robb
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- assiduity
- assiduousness
- industriousness
- industry
- sedulity
- sedulousness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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
Kids Definition
diligence
noun
dil·i·gence ˈdi-lə-jəns
: careful and continued hard work
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
diligence
noun
as in effort
attentive and persistent effort through the diligence and ingenuity of a single detective, the gang's ringleader was finally caught Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- effort
- assiduity
- persistence
- industriousness
- industry
- assiduousness
- attentiveness
- attention
- perseverance
- tenacity
- application
- concentration
- effortfulness
- painstaking
- doggedness
- tirelessness
- sedulity
- sedulousness
- care
- pains
- trouble
- bother
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- carelessness
- negligence
- laziness
- indolence
- slackness
- idleness