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; 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."

Example Sentences

Massie is a throwback libertarian who, in lieu of the standard lawmaker flag pin, wears on his lapel a national debt clock that he programmed himself.

From Slate • May 19, 2026

Many were not happy about the bonus program, especially the implication that it comes in lieu of giving raises to workers.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The good news for crypto investors is that, in lieu of a bill, the Trump administration is trying to make it easier in other ways for the industry to flourish.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

In lieu of a home phone, the Jetsons had a video phone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

She saw Punky Perkins, next to her in church, drop two buttons in the plate in lieu of the two pennies his mother had given him.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith