This optical modulator includes a substrate and a phase modulation unit on the substrate, said phase modulation unit including: a first traveling-wave electrode, a second traveling-wave electrode, and an optical waveguide configured from a first cladding layer, a semiconductor layer, which is laminated on the first cladding layer, and has a refractive index that is higher than that of the first cladding layer, and a second cladding layer, which is laminated on the semiconductor layer, and has a refractive index that is lower than that of the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer is provided with: a rib section, which is formed in the optical axis direction of the optical waveguide, and is to be the core of the optical waveguide; a first slab section formed in the optical axis direction on one side of the rib section; a second slab section formed in the optical axis direction on the other side of the rib section; a third slab section formed in the optical axis direction on the first slab section side opposite to the rib section; and a fourth slab section formed in the optical axis direction on the second slab section side opposite to the rib section. The first slab section is formed thinner than the rib section and the third slab section, and the second slab section is formed thinner than the rib section and the fourth slab section.