demandeuse

Demandeuse is a feminine noun in French that designates a person who makes a request or files an application. It is the feminine form related to demandeur and is used especially in administrative, social, and legal contexts to refer to a woman who initiates a procedure, request, or petition. Common uses include demandeuse d’emploi (job seeker), demandeuse d’asile (asylum seeker), or demandeuse de prêt (loan applicant).

Etymology and formation: the word is formed from the verb demander (to request) with the feminine agent-noun suffix -euse, following the pattern of other gendered job or role terms in French. This yields a direct parallel to masculine demandeur.

Contexts and usage: while the masculine form demandeur is widely used as a gender-neutral default, demandeuse appears to specify the gender in contexts where this distinction matters, such as in forms, administrative records, or role descriptions. In legal language, French texts may also employ formulations like la demandeuse, or, in more formal or older sources, la demanderesse, though the latter is less common in everyday usage. The choice of term can vary by region, register, and institutional preference.

Translations: in English, demandeuse can be rendered as “applicant,” “petitioner,” or “claimant,” depending on the context.

See also: demandeur, demande, demandeur d’emploi (as a compound), demandeur d’asile.