A tampon applicator according to the present invention includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube includes an outer-tube tip end portion having a locking portion and an outer-tube rear end portion having a protrusion. The protrusion is capable of passing by the locking portion from the outer-tube rear end portion side to the outer-tube tip end portion side. When the protrusion is positioned on the outer-tube tip end portion side of the locking portion, the locking portion locks the protrusion to prevent the inner tube from returning to the outer-tube rear end portion side of the locking portion.