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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
In lieu of flowers, Lockhart’s family asks that donations be made to The Actors Fund, ProPublica and International Hearing Dog, Inc.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2025
In lieu of any artificial sweeteners, Javvy uses Sukre which, like Stevia, is a natural alternative.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Tate’s memory be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, which has information on the disease.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The charter amendment, if passed, would scale back the current requirements by allowing the five-member City Commission to approve the sale of valuable city land, at market value, through a four-fifths vote in lieu of three bids.
—Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2025
In lieu of any artificial sweeteners, Javvy uses Sukre which, like Stevia, is a natural alternative.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Tate’s memory be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, which has information on the disease.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The charter amendment, if passed, would scale back the current requirements by allowing the five-member City Commission to approve the sale of valuable city land, at market value, through a four-fifths vote in lieu of three bids.
—Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
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 Oct. 2025.
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lieu
noun
archaic
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