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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 2015, the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE) approved an 11-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for the project.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10 Feb. 2026
Martinko recommends hanging a paper calendar on your wall, switching to a paper planner, and writing out grocery lists and meal plans in lieu of turning to your digital device.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
There are legitimate reasons to object to a mileage fee — from privacy concerns to whether such a fee would be in addition to or in lieu of existing taxes and fees.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Both were booked at the Long Beach Jail for murder and were being held in lieu of $2 million bail each, police said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10 Feb. 2026
Martinko recommends hanging a paper calendar on your wall, switching to a paper planner, and writing out grocery lists and meal plans in lieu of turning to your digital device.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
There are legitimate reasons to object to a mileage fee — from privacy concerns to whether such a fee would be in addition to or in lieu of existing taxes and fees.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Both were booked at the Long Beach Jail for murder and were being held in lieu of $2 million bail each, police said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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