lieu

noun

ˈlü 

archaic

: place, stead

Phrases

in lieu

: instead

in lieu of

: in the place of : instead of

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The accompanying image had the Veep at a lectern with a hammer and sickle emblem on it in lieu of the seal of her office. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2024

Vincent has now disappeared, and Allen is petitioning a judge to allow the publication of a summons in lieu of hand delivery. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Maxie’s name to One Billion Rising. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Aug. 2024

The Oakland resident was arrested Aug. 9 at his home, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held in lieu of $42,500 bail. —Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English liue, from Anglo-French liu, lieu, from Latin locus — more at stall

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lieu

• in lieu
• in lieu of

Kids Definition

lieu

noun

ˈlü 

archaic

: place entry 1 sense 7b, stead