What does "diligence" mean?
Steady application; industry; careful work involving long-term effort.
Diligence
noun
noun ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Steady application; industry; careful work involving long-term effort.
- Grammar: diligence is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: industry, advertence, advertency, alertness.
- Useful contrasts: careless neglect, neglectful practices, neglig.
- Usage evidence: Diligence is the way to success.
How to use "diligence"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "diligence" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "diligence" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "diligence" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Steady application; industry; careful work involving long-term effort. countable, uncountable
- 2 a diligent effort wordnet
- 3 The qualities of a hard worker, including conscientiousness, determination, and perseverance. countable, uncountable
- 4 conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in a given situation wordnet
- 5 Carefulness, in particular, the necessary care appropriate to a particular task or responsibility. countable, uncountable
"1863 Joseph Story: Commentaries on the Law of Bailments Before entering, however, upon a particular consideration of the distinctions of the common law, with, a view of ascertaining the precise nature and extent of the obligations of the bailee in the various sorts of bailment, it may be of use to say a few words on the subject of the various degrees of care or diligence, which are recognized in that law. It has been justly said, that there are infinite shades of care or diligence, from the slightest momentary thought to the most vigilant anxiety; but extremes in this case, as in most others, are inapplicable to practice. There may be a high degree of diligence, a common degree of diligence, and a slight degree of diligence ; and these, with a view to the business of life, seem all that are necessary to be brought under review. Common or ordinary diligence is that degree of diligence which men in general exert in respect to their own concerns. It may be said to be the common prudence, which men of business and heads of families usually exhibit, in affairs which are interesting to them. Or, as Sir William Jones has expressed it, it is the care, which every person, of common prudence, and capable of governing a family, takes of his own concerns. It is obvious, that this is adopting a very variable standard ; for it still leaves much ground for doubt, as to what is common prudence, and who is capable of governing a family. . . and low, or slight diligence is that, which persons of less than common prudence, or indeed of any prudence at all, take of their own concerns."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 persevering determination to perform a task wordnet
- 7 A four-wheeled public stage-coach, widely used in France before the general establishment of the railways. countable, historical, uncountable
"1822 M.Reichard, An Itinerary Of France And Belgium The French diligence is a most curious and unique machine : it is a strange compound of the English stage waggon and coach; and it similarly possesses all the conveniences of each without their defects. It contains six, eight, or ten passengers inside, according to its size; and in front is what is called the cabriolet of the diligence for outside passengers, with leather covers, like the body of our one-horse chaises, to defend both the head and legs from the weather. The (Dutch) Diligence, or Post-Waggon. A Diligence, or, as it is usually called, a post-waggon, is established between the principal towns of Holland. The post-waggon is constructed so as to contain six or eight travellers. Each place has its number, and the name of each passenger is registered. When he pays his fare, he obtains a ticket, with a number which indicates where he is to sit. Here, too, except he be very careful, his trunks will be fastened in such an awkward and negligent manner, that they will be frequently cut to pieces by the shaking, or dropped, or stolen on the road. These waggons are covered with waxed cloth, but are not suspended on springs. They are low and narrow : the seat is not remarkably comfortable; and the passenger is in danger of being suffocated by the smoke of his companions, who, if they are Dutch, light their pipes the instant they enter the waggon."
- 8 The process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings. countable, uncountable
"The precepts against parties, to whose oath of verity any point is referred, do only command them to compear at the term, with certification, that if they compear not, they shall be holden as confessing the point referred to their oath; but precepts against witnesses cannot have that certification, but all that can be done against them, or against the havers of writs, is to compel them to appear, and depone; and therefore these precepts are called executorials, because they are for putting the acts to effect by execution: they are also called compulsitors for the same reason. And they are called diligences, because they excuse the users thereof from negligence, whereby posterior diligences being exacty followed, are preferable to prior diligences being neglected, vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt, which is founded upon that great interest to hasten pleas to an end. They are also called diligences, because though the effect do not follow, yet the user thereof hath endeavoured what he could, and so is held as in the same case as if he had obtained the command of the precept. These precepts are called executorials before executions be thereupon; but they are only called diligences when they are executed in due time. ... Diligences are of three sorts, being either upon precepts before decreets, upon acts, or upon decreets. The last sort of diligences and executorials, viz. those after decreets, which serve for putting of decreets to execution, and making them effectual, are ordinarily horning, caption, poinding, charges to remove, and thereupon letters of possession, (which are granted on all decreets in petitory and possessory actions, but declaratory actions need none,) together with the executory actions upon arrestments, and of adjudications of lands and annualrents.."
Antonyms
Example
"Diligence is the way to success."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "diligence"?
Common synonyms include: industry, advertence, advertency, alertness, application, application.
How do you use "diligence" in a sentence?
Diligence is the way to success.
Etymology
Borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia.