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, 1989Many 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, 1842But 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
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But many people without criminal records have also been arrested and deported, including children, who have been picked up along with or in lieu of their parents.—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 July 2025 The smart play, many months ago, would’ve been to amend the All-Star Game policy to create flexibility, such as allowing the commissioner to levy a stiff fine, either to the player or a team, in lieu of a suspension.—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025 The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday named interim President Jim Davis as the sole finalist in the presidential search for UT Austin, using an alternative process in lieu of a presidential search committee.—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025 In lieu of flowers, Kamran’s family has started a memorial scholarship fund for emerging designers.—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lieu
Word History
Etymology
Middle English liue, from Anglo-French liu, lieu, from Latin locus — more at stall
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