lieu

noun

ˈlü 

archaic

: place, stead

see also in lieu, in lieu 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

In lieu of a conversation, consider writing down your feelings in a letter. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026

Both Um and James-Morrow were booked for murder and held in lieu of $2 million bail each. —CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026

Puga remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $3 million bail, jail records show. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

Miranda Levy proposed the $25 amount during this latest meeting in lieu of the original $50 right-of-way fee that the City of Cudahy was planning to add to its fees to cover a 2026 budget shortfall. —Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for lieu

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

lieu

noun

ˈlü 

archaic

: place entry 1 sense 7b, stead