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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
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
Peter Casey, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2024
Hunter is being held in lieu of $50,000, according to jail records.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024
Cowart is being held by Nashville Metro Police in lieu of a $37,000 bond.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
Cowart is being held in lieu of $37,000 bond, police said.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Apr. 2024
The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, well wishers make a donation to the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
The Army did not dispute the news organizations’ findings that the discharges in lieu of trial, also known as separations, were increasingly being used for violent crimes.
—Vianna Davila, ProPublica, 19 Apr. 2024
Athletes will sail down the Seine on cruise boats with spectators lining its banks, in lieu of the traditional parade on land.
—Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
In lieu of taxes, the tribe has agreed to pay the city a $60,000 annual fee if the project is approved.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lieu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lieu
Cite this Entry
“Lieu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieu. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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lieu
noun
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