This protective element includes a fuse element having a first end portion and a second end portion, in which current flows from the first end portion toward the second end portion, a protruding member and a recessed member that are positioned opposing one another so as to sandwich a cutoff portion, and a pressing device that imparts an elastic force that shortens the relative distance in a first direction that represents the direction in which the protruding member and the recessed member sandwich the cutoff portion, wherein at least one pair of opposing surfaces of a protruding portion of the protruding member and a recessed portion of the recessed member that intersect the direction of current flow through the fuse element are positioned close to one another when viewed in a plan view from the first direction, and the fuse element is cut at a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the material that constitutes the fuse element.