élues

Élues is the feminine plural form of the adjective and noun derived from élire, meaning elected. As a noun, élues refers specifically to women who have been elected to public office; as an adjective, élue describes something that has been elected (feminine singular: élue; feminine plural: élues). The masculine forms are élu (masculine singular), élus (masculine plural), while the feminine plural élues is used when the subject is entirely or predominantly female.

In political and civic contexts, élues is commonly used to designate women who hold elected positions, such as municipal council members, regional representatives, or national legislators. The masculine neutral counterpart for mixed or unspecified gender groups is élus, and both forms can appear in the same discourse depending on the gender composition of the body being described.

Usage notes: élues is frequently employed to highlight gender representation and the role of women in governance. Its use can reflect editorial choices or rhetorical aims in media and public discourse. When referring to a mixed-gender body, writers may choose élus to avoid gender specificity, while in contexts emphasizing women’s participation, élues may be preferred.

Etymology and grammar: élue comes from the verb élire (to elect). The past participle élu agrees in gender and number with the subject in compound tenses (elle a été élue, elles ont été élues). The term shares root with related forms such as élection and électeur.

See also: élu, élue, élus, élections, representation féminine.