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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
The New York Giants have spent extensive time scouting the Colorado quarterback, and the New Orleans Saints have been tied to Sanders in lieu of the injury news surrounding Derek Carr.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
In lieu of gifts, the family asks people to donate to RAINN in Nyweide’s name.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
In lieu of her newsletter as a means of updating her fans, Lorde has been connecting with her followers via text.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
The lucky player purchased her ticket for $10 in lieu of dessert during lunch with a friend at a deli in Dundalk, lottery officials said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
In lieu of gifts, the family asks people to donate to RAINN in Nyweide’s name.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
In lieu of her newsletter as a means of updating her fans, Lorde has been connecting with her followers via text.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
The lucky player purchased her ticket for $10 in lieu of dessert during lunch with a friend at a deli in Dundalk, lottery officials said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 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 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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