Words / C2

MEEL-y-ur/ˈmiːljɜː/

A milieu is the social or professional environment someone inhabits (formal): a literary milieu, the consultancy milieu. Setting and environment are everyday; milieu is French and slightly sociological. Medium is a means or a size — a lookalike. Do not call a single room a milieu.

Meaning

The social environment or set of people in which someone lives or works (formal).

Examples

• “She left the consultancy milieu for a quieter public lab.”
• “She left that consultancy milieu for a quieter public lab and worse coffee.”
• “Environment is the everyday twin; a milieu is the set of people and codes. Mix-up: medium (means / size).”

Good to know

A social/professional setting (formal). Everyday: environment / setting. Mix-up: medium. Not one room or one lunch.

Near in meaning

environment

New