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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
He is currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the I Street facility downtown in a different case, jail records show.
—Darrell Smith
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Reynaldo López is out for now, but does JR Ritchie stick around in lieu of, say, Martín Pérez?
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
He was being held in lieu of $2 million bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at Middlesex Superior Court on Thursday, according to police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Gaddis, 21, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in lieu of $2-million bail while awaiting trial.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lieu
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Darrell Smith
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Reynaldo López is out for now, but does JR Ritchie stick around in lieu of, say, Martín Pérez?
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
He was being held in lieu of $2 million bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at Middlesex Superior Court on Thursday, according to police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Gaddis, 21, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in lieu of $2-million bail while awaiting trial.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 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 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lieu
noun
archaic
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