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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
Still, when police offer shelter in lieu of arrest, people usually say no, city records show.
—Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
He was booked on one count of rape by force, one count of forcible oral copulation, one count of robbery, one count of extortion and one count of battery and remains behind bars in lieu of $600,000 bail, police said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The frame, featuring foot rests in lieu of pedals, sits closer to the ground for easier mounting, and the battery has been repositioned to give the glider a lower, more stable center of gravity.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
Well, look, the fact of the matter is that credits are oftentimes, and still to this day, are given away in lieu of cash.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
He was booked on one count of rape by force, one count of forcible oral copulation, one count of robbery, one count of extortion and one count of battery and remains behind bars in lieu of $600,000 bail, police said.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The frame, featuring foot rests in lieu of pedals, sits closer to the ground for easier mounting, and the battery has been repositioned to give the glider a lower, more stable center of gravity.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
Well, look, the fact of the matter is that credits are oftentimes, and still to this day, are given away in lieu of cash.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Mar. 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 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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