due diligence
noun
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Doing Your Due Diligence
Due diligence has been used since at least the mid-fifteenth century in the literal sense “requisite effort.” Centuries later, the phrase developed a legal meaning, namely, “the care that a reasonable person takes to avoid harm to other persons or their property”; in this sense, it is synonymous with another legal term, ordinary care. More recently, due diligence has extended its reach into business contexts, signifying the research a company performs before engaging in a financial transaction. This meaning may also apply to individuals: people are often advised to perform their due diligence before buying a house, signing a loan, or making any important purchase.
Examples of due diligence in a Sentence
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Climate volatility is hitting Pakistan’s agricultural communities hard and fast, while expectations around farm-level due diligence escalate. —Sj Studio, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026 At the time of the inspection in March 2024 the financial regulator found weaknesses in risk assessments, routines and customer due diligence, as well as shortcomings in ongoing follow-up of customer relationships and outsourcing, according to a statement on Thursday. —Evelina Youcefi, Bloomberg, 16 Apr. 2026 But the general manager has also done due diligence on a plethora of pass catchers in this year’s draft and brought several top receivers in for predraft visits. —Sam Warren, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for due diligence
Cite this Entry
“Due diligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/due%20diligence. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
due diligence
nouncalled also reasonable diligence
Note: Due diligence is used most often in connection with the performance of a professional or fiduciary duty, or with regard to proceeding with a court action. Due care is used more often in connection with general tort actions.
G. M. Lawrence
