diligence
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
careful and persistent work or effort.
steady, earnest, and energetic effort; the quality of being industrious and hardworking over a sustained period.
Simple“Through hard work and diligence, she eventually became the manager of the company.”
In context“The student's academic success was a direct result of her diligence, as she spent every evening reviewing her notes and refining her research.”
SynonymsAntonymslazinessidleness - 02 C1 Advanced
the care that you should take when doing a job or looking into something.
the attention and care legally or ethically required of a person, especially in a professional or contractual context.
Simple“The lawyer performed due diligence to make sure the contract was safe to sign.”
In context“The firm failed to exercise proper diligence in vetting the supplier, leading to a significant breach of safety protocols and subsequent legal action.”
UsageOften appears in the fixed phrase 'due diligence'.
Antonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a large horse-drawn carriage used for public transport in the past.
a public stagecoach, particularly a four-wheeled vehicle used in France and other parts of Europe before the advent of railways.
Simple“The travellers spent three uncomfortable days on the diligence as it crossed the mountains.”
In context“Before the expansion of the rail network, the diligence remained the primary mode of long-distance transport for the middle classes across the continent.”
Synonyms
“For trusted journalists, diligence meant spending more time with the community.”
“Since then none of the contracts have been confirmed, with ministers saying "due diligence" is still being carried out.”
Borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.