diligence

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/ UK /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #19236

Meanings

1

noun
Hard, careful, and steady effort in your work or duties.

Her diligence earned her quick promotions at the company.
2

noun
The careful attention you give to make sure something is done properly.

The lawyer checked the contract with great diligence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · hard, careful, and steady... industriousness industry

2 noun · the careful attention you... application

More worksomeness

Word family

Forms diligences

Derived forms nondiligenceoverdiligence

Related forms gumptionsticktoitivenessvigilance

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

due diligence
the careful investigation of a company's business, finances, and legal position before investing

Proverbs (1)

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By diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable

Simplified etymology

Diligence came into Middle English through French from Latin diligentia, meaning “attentiveness” or “carefulness.” Diligentia was formed from Latin diligere “value highly, love, choose,” itself combining di(s)- “apart” with legere “choose.”

Etymology

Borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia.

diligentia Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# diligence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/
**Frequency rank:** 19236

## Meanings
1. Hard, careful, and steady effort in your work or duties.
2. The careful attention you give to make sure something is done properly.

## Examples
- Her diligence earned her quick promotions at the company.
- The lawyer checked the contract with great diligence.

## Synonyms
- worksomeness

## Derived Forms
- nondiligence
- overdiligence

## Related Forms
- gumption
- sticktoitiveness
- vigilance

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: diligentia

## Etymology
Borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia.

## AI Etymology
diligence was borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia. Current senses include Hard, careful, and steady effort in your work or duties and The careful attention you give to make sure something is done properly. English relatives and later formations include nondiligence, overdiligence, gumption, sticktoitiveness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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