lieu

American  

[loo] / lu /

noun

1. place; stead.

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idioms

1. in lieu of, in place of; instead of.

   He gave us an IOU in lieu of cash.

lieu British  

/ ljuː, luː /

noun

1. stead; place (esp in the phrases in lieu, in lieu of )

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lieu More Idioms  

1. see under instead of.

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Etymology

Origin of lieu

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French, from Latin locus “place”; replacing Middle English liue, from Old French liu, from Latin; locus

Example Sentences

Ortiz, who is a licensed speech pathologist in Florida and California, remains jailed in lieu of $1.8 million.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

He’d probably ask for cash in lieu of a metal disk: The Oracle of Omaha has pulled no punches over the years about investing in gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Before diving into specific recipes, it’s important to familiarize yourself with ingredients that can be used in lieu of onions, Chavez says.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

Colleagues say D’Amaro has tried to increase profits by charging more on the busiest days and for shorter “lightning lanes,” in lieu of across-the-board price hikes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

His hair was slicked back and he wore, in lieu of his service station uniform, a baby-blue leisure suit.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt