What is the Latin word for diligence?

The usual Latin words for “diligence” are dīligō, industria, assiduitās; also sēdulitās, nāvitās, opus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“diligence” in Latin

dīligōto esteem, prize, love, have regard, to delight in (something); to set apart by choosing, to single (something) out, to industriaenergetic activity, industry, application, diligence; purposefulness, purpose assiduitāsconstant presence with someone; continuance, duration, constancy of something; frequency or repetition of something sēdulitāssedulity, sedulousness, application, assiduity, earnestness, zeal nāvitāspromptness, assiduity, zeal opuswork, labor, accomplishment; workmanship, artwork, work (of art, literature, etc.); need, necessity laborwork; labor, toil, exertion; hardship, trouble, fatigue, suffering, drudgery, distress studiumstudy; eagerness, zeal; desire, fancy impigritāsactivity, indefatigableness cūracare, concern, thought; pains, industry, diligence, exertion; anxiety, grief, sorrow

The English word diligence itself goes back to Latin legō, through diligentia.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

diligence

diligentia: industria: assiduitas: sedulitas [SYN. in ASSIDUITY]. (The words are found in this connection and order.) industria et diligentia: navitas (opposed to ignavia; activity; the useful diligence of ordinary men, and of the industrious citizen): opera (activity; doing, as opposed to to momentary inactivity, or merely thinking, talking, or advising; = ἐργασία): labor (continued and toilsome activity; = πόνος): studium (the inward impulse, or inclination towards the object): impigritas (Cic. ap. Non., 125, 20). (The words are found in this connection and order.) industria et labor: cura (care). To exhibit or use diligence in anything, industriam locare; diligentiam adhibere; studium collocare (all in re): to exhibit or use great diligence in anything, multum studii adhibere ad aliquid; operae plurimum studiique in aliqua re consumere; magnum studium et multam operam conferre ad aliquid; multum operae laborisque in re consumere; multo sudore et labore facere aliquid desudare et laborare in re: to use or exhibit all possible diligence in anything, omnem industriam or diligentiam ponere in re; omne studium conferre ad aliquid; omni cogitatione et cura, incumbere in aliquid; totum animum atque diligentiam ponere in re; totum et mente et animo incumbere in aliquid. Vid: INDUSTRY.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for diligence?: The usual Latin words for “diligence” are dīligō, industria, assiduitās; also sēdulitās, nāvitās, opus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.