Disclosed is a titanium oxynitride with excellent hiding properties (light-blocking properties) which is also excellent in degree of blackness and oxidation stability. Specifically disclosed is a titanium oxynitride having a chemical composition expresses as TiNxOy.nSiO.sub.2 (wherein Ti represents titanium atoms; N represents nitrogen atoms; O represents oxygen atoms; Si represents silicon atoms; x represents the ratio of nitrogen atoms relative to titanium atoms, y represents the ratio of oxygen atoms relative to titanium atoms, and x and y are respectively a real number of more than 0 but less than 2; and n represents the molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 relative to TiNxOy which is a real number within a range of 0.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.0.05). This titanium oxynitride contains nitrogen atoms represented by N in an amount of not less than 17% by weight but less than 23% by weight, while having a specific surface area of 5-30 m.sup.2/g and a crystallite size determined by using an X-ray diffractometer of 17-25 nm.