Phrases
in lieu
: instead
… some of the units are made available at affordable prices, or the developers pay a fee in lieu that supports a … housing fund.—
Chloe Hilles
Chloe Hilles
: in the place of : instead of
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
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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
Denver’s office sector has seen numerous foreclosures and deeds-in-lieu in recent years for buildings such as downtown’s Denver Energy Center and Market Center.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
In lieu of an outright ban, some cities and townships have gone the way of creating ordinances trying to regulate setbacks, enforce visual screening, or ground buffers.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Consider vegetable or mushroom stock in lieu of chicken stock.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The entrance fee would be in lieu of a previous proposal to charge for parking in Mission Bay Park, where all parking is now free of charge.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
In lieu of an outright ban, some cities and townships have gone the way of creating ordinances trying to regulate setbacks, enforce visual screening, or ground buffers.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Consider vegetable or mushroom stock in lieu of chicken stock.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
The entrance fee would be in lieu of a previous proposal to charge for parking in Mission Bay Park, where all parking is now free of charge.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 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 11 Nov. 2025.
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lieu
noun
archaic
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