A terminal fitting (10) has a rectangular tube (11) for receiving a mating male tab (90). A resilient contact (18) is formed in the rectangular tube (11) and can resiliently contact the male tab (90). An excessive deformation preventing portion (41) is formed in the rectangular tube (11) for preventing deformation of the resilient contact (18) beyond a resiliency limit by contacting the resilient contact (18) being resiliently deformed. The terminal fitting (10) also has an extending portion (33) projecting out from an end edge of the rectangular tube portion (11) in a developed state before being bent and arranged at an outer side of the resilient contact (18) after being bent. The excessive deformation preventing portion (41) is formed by bending a part of the extending portion (33) into the interior of the rectangular tube (11).