PURPOSE: To provide a voltage variable attenuator where linearity is realized in a rise characteristic and the change of a loop band in an automatic gain control circuit caused by the change of attenuation sensitivity is reduced.

CONSTITUTION: A logarithm amplifier 1, an inverse logarithm amplifier 2 having a voltage shift circuit 4 in a preceding stage and a voltage addition circuit 3 synthesizing the outputs of the amplifiers are provided as linear correction circuits. A control signal controlling attenuation quantity is corrected into an inverted S-shape, and it is synthesized with the S-shape attenuation characteristic of a PIN diode 6.