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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
Puga remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $3 million bail, jail records show.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Information on survivors was not immediately available, but the family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Pankind or Support Act.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
In lieu of sofas that kiss the floor, Watts encourages clients to spring for standard-height sofas with quality suspension and down-blend cushions, or a modular piece with clean lines.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Businesses race to automate in lieu of scarce talent.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Information on survivors was not immediately available, but the family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Pankind or Support Act.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
In lieu of sofas that kiss the floor, Watts encourages clients to spring for standard-height sofas with quality suspension and down-blend cushions, or a modular piece with clean lines.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Businesses race to automate in lieu of scarce talent.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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