To form an image hardly causing light scattering due to haze and excellent in discrimination performance at the time of reading by incorporating a slightly water-soluble specified compd. into a layer other than a photosensitive layer contg. photosensitive silver halide.

This silver halide photosensitive material contains a slightly water-soluble compd. represented by the formula in a layer other than a photosensitive layer contg. photosensitive silver halide. In the formula Q is a group of N and C atoms required to form a 5- or 6-membered imide ring. It is preferable that the compd. having an imide ring represented by the formula has low solubility to water at 25°C from the viewpoint of the preservability of the photosensitive material before development and has solubility of ≥1 to an aq. alkali soln. of ≥pH10 from the viewpoint of reactivity at the time of heat development. An image hardly causing light scattering due to haze and excellent in discrimination performance at the time of reading is formed and an image stable to light, heat and moisture is also formed. High sharpness color and black-and-white images are formed in a short time.