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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 discussions of who is best for the role artistically, the question becomes who will sell more tickets (Ivy has 3 million followers but TikTok influencers rally around Chloe) and create a less toxic workplace.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
Why not bring some bright colors into the home office or try a bedroom accent wall in lieu of a standard headboard?
—Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjusting a company’s DEI program may seem like an easy way to appease certain stakeholders in lieu of others, but the long-term consequences can be the questioning of consumer trust and loyalty.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Christian Lewis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
Why not bring some bright colors into the home office or try a bedroom accent wall in lieu of a standard headboard?
—Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjusting a company’s DEI program may seem like an easy way to appease certain stakeholders in lieu of others, but the long-term consequences can be the questioning of consumer trust and loyalty.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 4 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 15 Apr. 2025.
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lieu
noun
archaic
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