To obtain a silver halide photosensitive element giving a clear color image with improved color turbidity and an improved white ground when a diffusible dye is formed from a practically colorless color developing agent and a practically colorless coupler.

This photosensitive element contains a color developing agent represented by the formula and a coupler forming a diffusible dye by reaction with the oxidized body of the color developing agent in at least one hydrophilic colloidal layer formed on the substrate and further contains a coupler not forming a diffusible dye by reaction with the oxidized body of the color developing agent. In the formula, Z is carbamoyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl or aryloxycarbonyl and Q is a group of atoms forming an unsatd. ring in combination with C.