in lieu of

From Middle English in liue of, a partial calque of Old French au leu de (modern French au lieu de).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪn ljuː əv/, /ɪn ljuː ɒv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪn luː əv/, /ɪn luː ɑːv/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• Audio (US):

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• Audio (US):

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in lieu of

1. Instead of; in place of.

   They gave him a cash award, in lieu of the promised prize package.

2. (proscribed) In light of.

   In lieu of recent events, more caution is needed.

• Using it to mean in light of is etymologically incorrect (it is literally in place of), and thus considered an error.^[1]