It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a nonwoven fabric for an outer sheet of an absorbent article wherein moisture is discharged from a liquid-impermeable sheet while moisture is confined within an outer sheet, so that the wearer is less likely to feel mustiness between the absorbent article and the clothing. The nonwoven fabric of this disclosure has the following construction. A nonwoven fabric (13) for an outer sheet (6) of an absorbent article (1) comprising a liquid-impermeable sheet having moisture vapor permeability (5), the nonwoven fabric (13) having a thickness direction (T) and a planar direction (P), and a first surface (15) and a second surface (17), the nonwoven fabric (13) including thermoplastic resin fibers (19), and cellulosic fibers (21) that are cellulosic fibers (21) of which at least a portion form a plurality of fiber masses (23), the nonwoven fabric (13) comprising a plurality of gaps (27) that are adjacent to first regions (25) of each of the plurality of fiber masses (23) that are facing the first surface (15), wherein each of the plurality of fiber masses (23) are not joined with the thermoplastic resin fibers (29).
