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diligence

n.
US //ˈdɪɫədʒəns// UK //dˈɪlɪdʒəns// dili·gence
  1. 1 hard work and effort (n.)
    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.

    Example

    Through hard work and diligence, she eventually became the manager of the company.

    Example

    The student's academic success was a direct result of her diligence, as she spent every evening reviewing her notes and refining her research.
  2. 2 carefulness and attention (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    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.

    Example

    The lawyer performed due diligence to make sure the contract was safe to sign.

    Example

    The firm failed to exercise proper diligence in vetting the supplier, leading to a significant breach of safety protocols and subsequent legal action.

    Usage

    Often appears in the fixed phrase 'due diligence'.
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  1. 3 a stagecoach (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    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.

    Example

    The travellers spent three uncomfortable days on the diligence as it crossed the mountains.

    Example

    Before the expansion of the rail network, the diligence remained the primary mode of long-distance transport for the middle classes across the continent.
Origin

Borrowed from French diligence, from Latin diligentia.

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