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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 laces, two adjustable dials allow wearers to finetune their fit.
—Ashley Mateo, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
The township is estimated to pay $26,000 a year to the district in lieu of the Wawa taxes going into the TIF fund.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2024
In lieu of flowers, the Talton family is asking for donations to be made in his memory to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.
—Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
The new Labour government, in lieu of allowing more foreign workers in, has pledged to focus on upskilling and training domestic workers.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lieu 
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Ashley Mateo, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
The township is estimated to pay $26,000 a year to the district in lieu of the Wawa taxes going into the TIF fund.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2024
In lieu of flowers, the Talton family is asking for donations to be made in his memory to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.
—Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
The new Labour government, in lieu of allowing more foreign workers in, has pledged to focus on upskilling and training domestic workers.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lieu
Dictionary Entries Near lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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