To obtain a water absorbent from which a absorptive article showing high absorption capacity in any situation can be easily manufactured.

The water absorbent comprises a water soluble vinyl monomer (a1) and/or a vinyl monomer (a2) producing the water soluble vinyl monomer (a1) by its hydrolysis, and a crosslinked polymer containing a cross linking agent as its essential constitutional unit, and satisfies the formulas (1): (Y)≥-1.14(X)+69.5 and (2): (X)=((x1)2+4×(x2)2)1/2 [wherein (x1) is an amount of water retention of the water absorbent (g/g) after 1 hour dipping in physiological saline; (x2) is an absorption amount of the water absorbent (g/g) after 1 hour dipping in physiological saline under a load of 0.9 psi; and (Y) is a flow rate of physiological saline (ml/min) under a load of 0.3 psi after dipping the water absorbent in the physiological saline for one hour].