noun
lieu
LOO/luː/
The place of someone or something else, chiefly in the phrase “in lieu of.”
The adult offers a clean mug in lieu of the broken cup.
Etymology
Latin locus meant a place or position. In “in lieu of,” that spatial idea becomes substitution: one thing occupies the place that another would otherwise fill.
In context
we should not allow licensees to inspect themselves in lieu of NRC inspections
More examples
- The family requests donations to the shelter in lieu of flowers.
- We accept a passport in lieu of a driver's license.
- She submitted written comments in lieu of attending the meeting.