milieu

American  

[mil-yoo, meel-, mee-lyœ] / mɪlˈyʊ, mil-, miˈlyœ /

noun

plural

milieus,

plural

milieux

1. surroundings, especially of a social or cultural nature.

   a snobbish milieu.

   Synonyms:

   setting, sphere, background

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milieu British  

/ miljø, ˈmiːljɜː /

noun

1. surroundings, location, or setting

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Related Words

See environment.

Etymology

Origin of milieu

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, equivalent to mi (from Latin medius “middle”; medium ) + lieu lieu

Example Sentences

It’s a grim reminder of L.A’.s insatiable appetite to destroy its own heritage and especially devastating to a certain milieu of writers and artists, myself very much included.

From Los Angeles Times

Even with all that milieu and surrounded by many of their countrymen, some Americans still get homesick.

From The Wall Street Journal

His mother and sister both studied at the School of American Ballet, and he was raised in a rich performing arts milieu.

From Los Angeles Times

We have that accessibility where we live in the middle of San Francisco, along with the vibrant city milieu.

From The Wall Street Journal

But he wasn’t the first Republican president to have made his way in a Democratic milieu.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambience
• surroundings