diligence
gb/dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/ us/dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
C1
English
~ 7300
szorgalom, gondosság, kellő gondosság
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s diligence in [doing something]
Her diligence in checking every detail saved the company from an expensive mistake.
A minden részlet ellenőrzése során tanúsított gondossága megóvta a céget egy költséges hibától.
Through years of diligence and patience, he became one of the top researchers in his field.
Évek szorgalma és türelme révén a szakterületének egyik legjobb kutatójává vált.
The teacher praised the student's diligence in completing every assignment on time.
Success in language learning often depends more on daily diligence than on natural talent.
Their progress is a direct result of the team’s diligence and commitment.
Learner examples
Her diligence helped her get very good grades.
A szorgalma segített neki abban, hogy nagyon jó jegyeket kapjon.
With patience and diligence, he finished the long project.
Türelemmel és szorgalommal befejezte a hosszú projektet.
The boss noticed his diligence and gave him a raise.
Diligence is important if you want to improve your English.
They won the contract because of their diligence on the job.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "diligence" with "intelligence". "Diligence" is about working hard and carefully; it does not mean being smart. Another mistake is using it like a verb (e.g., *"He diligenced his work"*); the correct verb is "to be diligent" or phrases like "work with diligence".
Meaning
careful, persistent effort
Collocations
show diligence
|with diligence
|hard work and diligence
|study with diligence
|professional diligence
Synonyms
hard work (More general and informal; does not always include the idea of careful attention to detail.)
|
industry (Formal word for steady hard work; focuses slightly more on constant activity than on careful attention.)
|
meticulousness (Stresses extreme attention to detail; may not always imply long-term effort.)
Antonyms
laziness (Lack of effort or willingness to work; opposite of steady, careful effort.)
|
carelessness (Lack of attention or thought; opposite of being careful and thorough.)
Themes
work
|education
|character
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The quality of working carefully and for a long time without giving up.
Careful and persistent effort in doing work or carrying out a task, showing attention, thoroughness, and steady hard work over time.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
due diligence on [something]
The board failed to show sufficient diligence in reviewing the company’s financial reports.
Az igazgatótanács nem tanúsított kellő gondosságot a vállalat pénzügyi jelentéseinek felülvizsgálatakor.
Investors expect the firm to perform proper diligence before recommending any product.
A befektetők elvárják, hogy a cég kellő gondossággal járjon el, mielőtt bármilyen terméket ajánl.
The court found that the employer had exercised reasonable diligence to protect workers from harm.
During the acquisition, their legal team carried out extensive diligence on all existing contracts.
A lack of diligence in monitoring safety procedures led to the company being fined.
Learner examples
The company must show diligence when it checks new partners.
A vállalatnak kellő gondosságot kell tanúsítania, amikor új partnereket ellenőriz.
Our lawyer said we need more diligence before we sign the contract.
Az ügyvédünk azt mondta, hogy még körültekintőbben kell eljárnunk, mielőtt aláírjuk a szerződést.
Because of poor diligence, they missed a serious risk.
The bank did not use enough diligence when it gave the loan.
The manager is responsible for diligence in health and safety.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "diligence" in this sense always means only "hard work". In legal and business contexts, it specifically means the careful checks and steps that are required by law or professional standards, especially in phrases like "due diligence" or "exercise diligence".
Meaning
required legal or professional care
Collocations
due diligence
|exercise diligence
|lack of diligence
|duty of diligence
|perform diligence
Synonyms
due care (Legal term focusing on the minimum care required to avoid fault or negligence.)
|
proper diligence (Emphasizes meeting expected professional or legal standards of careful behavior.)
Antonyms
negligence (Failure to use the care that is legally or professionally required; legal opposite of diligence.)
Themes
law
|business
|finance
|risk
|work
Definition
The careful work and checks that the law or rules say a person or company must do.
The level of care, attention, and thoroughness that the law, a contract, or professional standards require someone to show, especially in checking information or managing risks.
Grammar
Dictionary form
diligence
IPA
GB/dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
US/dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
Syllables & stress
di - li - gence (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (di)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: diligence
- Plural: diligence, diligences
Word family
Forms
diligences
noun
Core family
diligent
adjective B2
diligently
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
negligence
noun C1
negligent
adjective B2
Expressions
conduct due diligence
1/kˈɑndʌkt dˈu dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
formal
carry out detailed checks
To perform a careful and detailed check of information before a big legal or business action, such as a merger or large purchase.
Examples
- They hired an external firm to conduct due diligence on the target company.
- Banks must conduct due diligence on new clients to prevent money laundering.
- Our team is conducting due diligence on several potential suppliers.
do your due diligence
1/dˈu jˈʊɹ dˈu dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
check carefully before deciding
To carefully check information and risks before you make an important choice, especially in business, finance, or big personal decisions.
Examples
- You should always do your due diligence before investing in any new fund.
- The article reminds readers to do their due diligence when choosing a childcare provider.
- He didn’t do his due diligence and later discovered serious problems with the house.
due diligence
1/dˈu dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
formal
careful checks before a decision
Careful study and checks that a person or company does before making an important legal or business decision, such as buying another company or signing a big contract.
Examples
- Before buying the startup, the investors did months of due diligence.
- Good due diligence would have revealed the company’s hidden debts.
- Our lawyer is still completing due diligence on the property documents.
due diligence
8/dˈu dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
business
careful pre-deal investigation
Due diligence is the research and checking you do before an important deal or decision.
Examples
- The buyer is conducting due diligence on the property.
- We need to do due diligence before we sign the contract.
- The merger is still in the due diligence stage.
Learner examples
- Our team did due diligence on the new supplier.
exercise due diligence
1/ˈɛksɚsˌaɪz dˈu dˈɪlɪd͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
formal
use the required level of care
To act with the careful checks and attention that the law or professional rules say you must show.
Examples
- The company argued that it had exercised due diligence in protecting customer data.
- Employers are required to exercise due diligence to keep the workplace safe.
- If you exercise due diligence, you can reduce the risk of legal claims.