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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
Pat, not knowing about her relationship with Lockjaw, takes to being a father, but Perfidia pulls away, choosing to continue her work as a revolutionary in lieu of settling down.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
In lieu of traditional pilot season, Hulu has been picking up a handful of pilots a couple of times a year.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Nanos resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1982, according to public records cited in the Arizona Republic.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Organic waste is composted, and in lieu of single-use plastics, eco-friendly products are used in sustainable materials.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
In lieu of traditional pilot season, Hulu has been picking up a handful of pilots a couple of times a year.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Nanos resigned in lieu of termination from the El Paso Police Department in Texas in 1982, according to public records cited in the Arizona Republic.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Organic waste is composted, and in lieu of single-use plastics, eco-friendly products are used in sustainable materials.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 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 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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