The present invention provides an absorbent article that exhibits an excellent fit around the legs and excellent lateral leakage prevention performance. Absorbent articles (1, 10) are equipped with: an absorbent element (2) that has absorbent bodies (7, 70), a top sheet (3), and a back sheet (5) and a pair of flap sections (90). Therein: the absorbent bodies (7, 70) are divided in the widthwise direction into a center section that extends in the lengthwise direction, and a pair of lateral sections that extend in the lengthwise direction on both sides of the center section the absorbent bodies (7, 70) have an absorbent core layer (71) in the center sections thereof, and a flexible member layer (73) containing a web that contains long fibers in both lateral sections thereof the flap sections (90) have securing parts (91) provided in locations that overlap both lateral sections of the absorbent bodies (7, 70) in the thickness direction thereof, and also have elastic members (13) for leg gathers that extend in the lengthwise direction to the outside of the securing parts (91) in the widthwise direction. When worn, the flap sections (90) form a pair of leg gathers that stand to the outside of the absorbent body as a result of contraction by the elastic members (13) for the leg gathers.Linvention fournit un article absorbant qui se révèle excellent en termes de propriétés dajustement aux jambes et de performances dinhibition de fuite latérale. Larticle absorbant (1, 10) de linvention est équipé dun élément absorbant (2) qui possède un corps absorbant (7, 70), une feuille supérieure (3) et une feuille arrière (5), et dune paire de parties rabat (90). Le corps absorbant (7, 70) est divisé, dans ladite direction latérale, en une partie centrale se prolongeant dans la direction longitudinale, et en une paire de parties latérales se prolongeant dans la direction longitudinale des deux côtés de la partie centrale. Le corps absorbant (7, 70) possède une couche noyau absorbant (7
