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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 flowers, donations may be made to either NPR or the Hawaiian Humane Society.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
In lieu of flowers, Rabbett is asking that donations instead be made in Chamberlain's name to either NPR or the Hawaii Humane Society.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
In lieu of a lengthy appeals process, Gilmore opted for a firing squad and was executed in 1977.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
In lieu of advertising, organizations may rely on referrals or hire a recruiter to find candidates.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
In lieu of flowers, Rabbett is asking that donations instead be made in Chamberlain's name to either NPR or the Hawaii Humane Society.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
In lieu of a lengthy appeals process, Gilmore opted for a firing squad and was executed in 1977.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2025
In lieu of advertising, organizations may rely on referrals or hire a recruiter to find candidates.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2025.
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lieu
noun
archaic
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