The invention provides a zinc oxide particle having suppressed surface activity which gives safe and effective UV ray shielding ability (especially at longer wavelengths) to a variety of products such as resin molds, coating compositions or cosmetics, and a process for the production of the same. The zinc oxide particle of the invention has on the surface a cover layer formed of zinc silicate in an amount of 0.5-50% by weight in terms of zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) relative to the zinc oxide. The zinc oxide particle which contains solid solution iron or cobalt therein as well as a cover layer formed of zinc silicate has effective UV ray shielding ability at much longer wavelengths while it is suppressed in the surface activity.
