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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
Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega led the sixth movie in lieu of Campbell, both of whom subsequently left the franchise in 2023.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Nevertheless, in lieu of that art turning into a mismanaged eyesore, the feasibility of care should be at the top of your considerations.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Choose Low-Water Plants In lieu of flowers, Wood relied on the intriguing foliage of various low-water plants to provide interest throughout the yard.
—Rory Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
It’s funded through fees paid by developers in lieu of providing affordable housing.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Nevertheless, in lieu of that art turning into a mismanaged eyesore, the feasibility of care should be at the top of your considerations.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Choose Low-Water Plants In lieu of flowers, Wood relied on the intriguing foliage of various low-water plants to provide interest throughout the yard.
—Rory Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
It’s funded through fees paid by developers in lieu of providing affordable housing.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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