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

See Examples For:

lieu

In lieu of engaging in objective analysis, the discipline is shaping, even bending, the truth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Employees who were given shares over the years in lieu of cash compensation, for example, have one way to lock in the cash value of their deferred compensation: by selling.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

I met the 28-year-old on the top floor, where he opted for a warm, friendly hug in lieu of a firm business handshake.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Lutnick has started to make fermented vegetables at home in lieu of eating store-bought sauerkraut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

In lieu of a response—because I’m a little choked up—I kiss her forehead, and she squeezes me tighter.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone