lieu
UK: ljuː | US: luː
n. place or position (used chiefly in the phrase "in lieu of")
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The word "lieu" entered English from Old French in the 14th century, retaining its original meaning of "place." It traces back to Latin locus, which also meant "place" or "position." Unlike many Latin-derived words that evolved into longer forms (e.g., "location"), "lieu" preserved its compact structure. Today, it survives almost exclusively in the phrase in lieu of, meaning "instead of" or "in place of," reflecting its core idea of substitution.
She accepted a bonus in lieu of a pay raise.
The manager offered extra vacation days in lieu of overtime pay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to charity.
He submitted a written statement in lieu of appearing in court.
The company provided stock options in lieu of higher salaries.