voleuses

Voleuses is the plural of the French noun voleuse, which designates a female thief. The term derives from the verb voler, meaning to steal, and is used to describe a woman who commits theft. It is a gendered noun; the masculine counterpart is voleur. In everyday language, voleuse is a descriptive label rather than a formal legal category, and its connotation varies with context—from neutral description to pejorative labeling in sensational journalism or fiction.

Linguistically, voleuse is formed with the feminine agent-noun suffix -euse, and the plural -euses. Historically, the word has appeared in crime reports, literature, and cinema to denote female criminals, sometimes emphasizing femininity or cunning in narrative tropes. In particular, the construction "voleuse à la tire" is used to refer to a pickpocket who steals from pockets or bags in public places.

In contemporary usage, writers may prefer more precise phrases such as "professionnelle du vol" (professional thief) or "cambrioleuse" (female burglar) to avoid generic gender assumptions. The term therefore functions as both a lexical item and a cultural marker reflecting gendered language in discussions of crime.

See also: voleur, vol, cambriolage, vol à la tire, criminologie.