A cyclic phenol sulfide containing at least one sulfinyl or sulfonyl group represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, or an acyl group; Y represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a halogenated hydrocarbon group, --COR.sup.1, --OR.sup.2, --COOR.sup.3, --CN, --CONH.sub.2, --NO.sub.2, --NR.sup.4 R.sup.5, a halogen atom, --SO.sub.4 R.sup.6, or --SO.sub.3 R.sup.7, in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 each represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; Z represents one member selected from the group consisting of S, a sulfinyl group, and a sulfonyl group; and n represents an integer of 4 to 12, provided that the plural X's or the plural Y's are the same or different, and that at least one of the plural Z's is a sulfinyl group or a sulfonyl group, and a process for producing the same.