Leakage of magnetic fluxes passing through the gaps between the magnetic pole teeth of an armature is reduced thereby to reduce a magnetic attraction force between the armature and a mover. A linear motor includes a first member and a second member. The first member is configured with at least a magnetic pole of a first polarity having a first opposed portion and a magnetic pole of a second polarity having a second opposed portion. The second member is held by the first opposed portion, while the second member is held by the second opposed portion and moves relatively. The first member is formed of an iron core and a winding, and the second member is formed of a permanent magnet, a magnetic material, a winding of a single type or a combination of a plurality of types of materials.