An alkaline dry battery of this invention includes: a positive electrode including at least one of a manganese dioxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a negative electrode including a zinc alloy powder; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; an alkaline electrolyte; and a battery case for housing the positive electrode, negative electrode, the separator, and the alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode further includes a surfactant that adsorbs to a surface of the zinc alloy powder during a non-discharge period and promptly desorbs from the surface of the zinc alloy powder upon start of discharge without impeding ion transfer in the alkaline electrolyte.