lieu
Americannoun
idioms
noun
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; see locus
Explanation
To be in lieu of something is to replace it or substitute for it. A restaurant that's run out of clams might serve French onion soup in lieu of chowder. The word lieu originally comes from the Latin locus, meaning "place," and its meaning has stayed true to its origins ever since. Though it does have a standalone definition, "the position or function formerly held by another," this noun is most commonly encountered in the phrase "in lieu of," which means, basically, "instead of."
Vocabulary lists containing lieu
The Tempest
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her family has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to Oakhaven Hospice, Childline, The Silver Line and Cats Protection.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Zacharia, meanwhile, received the equivalent of a “see me after class” from the teacher in lieu of a grade.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
In lieu of warning Europe to evacuate, they pray and make a plan to cover their asses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
In lieu of all that iterative work, companies are experimenting with new ways to build muscle memory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
In lieu of cake and gifts, we would pool our food and present an extra slice of bread or cup of coffee to the birthday honoree.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
