Word of the day · 17 April 2026
diligent
/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/
adjective
Showing steady care and effort in work or duties.
In a sentence
- A diligent clerk caught the billing error.
- Diligent practice improved her free throws.
- The team made a diligent search of the archive.
In an image
Origin
From Latin diligens (careful, attentive), from diligere (to value or love).
History
Schools and workplaces reward diligent habits: checking twice, finishing chores, keeping records. The Latin root ties care to what one values. Diligence is quieter than brilliance and often more reliable when deadlines matter.
Nearby words
careful · industrious · thorough
Attention that does not clock out early.