An object of the present invention is to provide a recording material or a recording sheet that is excellent not only in whiteness of a background but also in storage property for a background and an image, and further has excellent dynamic sensitivity. In order to achieve the object, a phenol compound represented by Formula (I) [wherein R1 represents a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom, p represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, an optionally substituted phenyl group or an optionally substituted benzyl group; and a bond shown with a wavy line represents E- or Z-form, or a mixture thereof] and having a color space b* of 10 or less, and preferably having brightness by Hunter of 75 or more, is used as a recording material.