Diligent

Diligent is an adjective describing a person who shows care and conscientious effort in their work or duties. A diligent worker, student, or researcher is typically thorough, organized, and reliable. The corresponding noun is diligence. The term originates from the Latin diligens, the present participle of diligere, meaning to value or prize and to show care. It entered English in the late Middle Ages and has remained a neutral to positive descriptor.

In usage, diligently formed adverbs describe action: she studied diligently. Diligent implies steady attention and persistence rather than flashes of brilliance. It is often used in professional, educational, and administrative contexts to indicate a standard of effort rather than innate talent. In law and business, the phrase due diligence refers to careful, comprehensive examination before a decision, such as a merger or real estate transaction.

Common synonyms include industrious, conscientious, thorough, and meticulous, while antonyms include lazy, negligent, careless, and sloppy. Diligence can reflect personal discipline or organizational expectations and is valued across cultures as a hallmark of reliability and professionalism.

Examples: “The team conducted a diligent review of the data.” “Her diligent preparation helped the project succeed.”