diligence
C1Formal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality of working carefully and with a lot of effort; steady and earnest application.
A stagecoach or public transport service in historical contexts (obsolete). In legal contexts, it also refers to the standard of care a reasonable person should exercise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies consistent, careful effort over time, not just sporadic bursts of energy. Connotes a positive, praiseworthy character trait.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. The legal term 'due diligence' is used identically in both. The archaic stagecoach meaning is equally rare.
Connotations
Both varieties have positive connotations of industriousness and conscientiousness.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal UK English (e.g., school reports, legal contexts).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to show diligence in (doing) somethingto do something with diligenceto lack diligencedue diligence on/into somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Due diligence (standard legal/commercial phrase)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial in 'due diligence' - the detailed investigation of a company before a merger or investment.
Academic
Used to praise a student's consistent, careful work and research efforts.
Everyday
Less common; used to describe someone's work ethic, e.g., 'She approaches her hobbies with great diligence.'
Technical
Legal: standard of care. Finance: pre-investment analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He worked diligently on the report for weeks.
- She diligently saved a portion of her salary each month.
American English
- The team diligently followed the new safety protocols.
- He practiced the piano diligently every morning before school.
adjective
British English
- His diligent preparation secured him the promotion.
- She is a diligent researcher, checking every source.
American English
- The diligent student reviewed her notes every night.
- Through diligent work, they completed the audit on time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Good students work with diligence.
- She shows diligence in her homework.
- The project was completed thanks to his diligence and attention to detail.
- The teacher praised her for her diligence in studying for the exam.
- The lawyer's diligence in reviewing the case files uncovered a critical piece of evidence.
- Success in this field requires not just talent but sustained diligence.
- The bank's due diligence process was exhaustive, taking several months to analyse the company's assets and liabilities.
- His scholarly diligence is evident in the meticulously footnoted monograph.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DILIGENT ant (DILI-GENT) carrying a leaf with great care and steady effort.
Conceptual Metaphor
DILIGENCE IS A JOURNEY (steady progress), DILIGENCE IS A TOOL (for achieving quality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'скорость' (speed). It's about care/effort, not pace. The Russian cognate 'дилижанс' is a false friend meaning 'stagecoach', a very rare/archaic English meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'intelligence' or 'talent'. Using it to mean 'speed' (e.g., 'He worked with great diligence' ≠ quickly). Misspelling as 'dilligence'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely to be described with 'diligence'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Diligence' implies careful, persistent, and conscientious effort, while 'hard work' can be just intense labour. Diligence has a stronger connotation of care and consistency.
A standard business and legal term meaning a comprehensive appraisal of a business or asset undertaken before a purchase, investment, or contract to confirm all facts and assess risks.
No. The noun is 'diligence'. The related verb is 'to diligence' (rare, business jargon, e.g., 'We will diligence the company'), but the standard adjective is 'diligent' and adverb is 'diligently'.
It's more common in formal, academic, and professional contexts (business, law). In everyday speech, people might more often say 'hard work', 'carefulness', or 'effort', though 'diligence' is perfectly understood.
Collections
Part of a collection
Advanced Business English
C1 · 43 words · Sophisticated language for business and finance.
Explore