An electromagnetic wave absorber includes a ground layer made of a metal conductor, a dielectric layer formed on the ground layer, and a unit cell pattern made of a resistive material, and formed on the dielectric layer. The unit cell pattern includes a fundamental patch having a regular square shape, in which a rectangular recess is formed on the center of each of the respective sides, the fundamental patch being located at the center of each of the unit cell pattern, and half cross dipole patches, which are respectively disposed at the four sides of the fundamental patch at a regular angle so as to be engaged with the recesses formed on the respective sides of the fundamental patch at a regular interval.