La Pousette, sometimes rendered Locking Pousette or simply Pousette, is the trade name for a friction-locking earring back in which a sleeve and internal spring grip the post rather than relying on simple pinch tension. The mechanism originated in France, where the verb pousser means to push, reflecting the action of depressing a small button or sliding the rear sleeve to release the back from the post.

The device combines a hollow outer barrel with a sprung inner collar that closes around grooves machined into the earring post. To release, the wearer either presses two side buttons or slides the back rearward, freeing the collar and allowing it to be drawn off. Compared with a conventional friction back, the lock provides far greater retention against accidental loss, particularly with heavier stud earrings.

Quality varies considerably. Fine examples are produced in 18-karat gold and platinum and incorporate stainless or palladium springs to resist fatigue; lower-cost stampings can lose grip after limited wear. Posts intended for use with a Pousette typically carry a single circumferential groove or notch behind the head of the post, so an existing earring may need conversion before the back will engage.

For diamond stud and important coloured-stone studs, jewellers commonly recommend a locking back over a friction or threaded screw type, since it gives security without the slow on-and-off of a screw post. The trade-off is bulk: a Pousette sits noticeably deeper behind the lobe and adds weight, which the wearer should consider on lighter or piercing-sensitive ears.