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Lieu vs. Loo vs. Lue
Due to its unusual Francophonic spelling, many people misspell lieu (which appears most often in the phrase in lieu of) as loo or lue. We even have evidence for people assuming the phrase is inlu of. It is, in fact, in lieu of. Lieu as a standalone noun means “place” and it’s now archaic. You can remember the spelling of lieu by using the mnemonic “lieu in everyday use.”
Examples of lieu in a Sentence
I have decided that in lieu of a going-away shower, those who wish to go in on a nice gift for her can see me after church.
—
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home, 1989
Many of those pigs live here. Do they ever wonder why their masters walk upright in lieu of going on all-fours?
—Charles Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation, 1842
But when she read, and re-read with the closest attention, the particulars immediately following of Wickham's resigning all pretensions to the living, of his receiving, in lieu, so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds, again was she forced to hesitate.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Recent Examples on the Web
In lieu of capos, this organization has maliks, who start jockeying control once Baba’s death creates a power vacuum.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Vaccination rates in California got a boost after the Disneyland outbreak spurred legislation that reduced the number of legal exemptions California families could get in lieu of vaccinating their children before sending them to school.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
In lieu of flowers, Magic faithful are encouraged to send well wishes to members of the team’s beleaguered training staff.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
She was taken to Stanislaus County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, though court or jail records did not show her information as of Friday noon.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Vaccination rates in California got a boost after the Disneyland outbreak spurred legislation that reduced the number of legal exemptions California families could get in lieu of vaccinating their children before sending them to school.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
In lieu of flowers, Magic faithful are encouraged to send well wishes to members of the team’s beleaguered training staff.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
She was taken to Stanislaus County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, though court or jail records did not show her information as of Friday noon.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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