What Milieu Really Means

Wondrous Words Wednesday

wondrous memeA few weeks ago, I cleared up some confusion about the word “erstwhile.”  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know that it meant “former.”  I’m here again, sharing a word that I thought meant commotion, but actually means something much different.

I subscribe to Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day email, and when “milieu” popped up in my inbox, I said to myself, “Oh, I know that one.  Commotion, a mess.”

Wrong!  Good thing I read the entire email.

milieu \mel-‘yü\ noun, from the French mi– middle + lieu place; the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops

For example,

A middle school dance provides the perfect milieu for embarrassing situations and gossip.

Do you remember middle school dances?  Shudder.  Soon, I’ll have to attend them again- as a chaperone!

Word Nerd Workout

Use milieu in a sentence.

If you’d like to learn more word nerdy words, check out Wondrous Words Wednesday at Bermudaonion.net for links to more interesting vocab!

Julia 

Julia Tomiak
I believe in the power of words to improve our lives, and I help people find interesting words to read. Member of SCBWI.

8 Comments

  1. I like to say that word. Milieu… It just sounds nice.

    Why do the French have al the cool-sounding words!? LOL

  2. I knew milieu from the little bit of French I remember but I don’t use it. I’ll attempt a sentence now. Pre-school is a wonderful milieu for learning and socialization of youngsters.

  3. Thanks for the clarification! This is one of those words that I thought I could use in a sentence…until I tried. The definition is very helpful.

  4. Julia,
    Milieu seems like a lovely French word and even though I know it’s meaning I rarely use it. Maybe now I will. I wonder if you were thinking of that other great French word, melee, which I think means commotion?
    What a great milieu you provide for discussion of these great words. Jane

  5. I knew the correct meaning of milieu, but I must have missed the post on “erstwhile.” I thought that meant “temporary” or “slightly phony.” Like “her erstwhile boyfriend” would mean someone who was kinda-sorta of a boyfriend but not one who’d be around for long.

    I guess I got the time-related meaning, but not that it meant former instead of temporary.

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