Magnetoresistive element, magnetic head, magnetic reproducing apparatus, and magnetic memory

A magnetoresistive element includes a magnetoresistive film having a magnetization pinned layer (4) whose magnetization is substantially pinned to one direction, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer (5), and a magnetization free layer (6) whose magnetization is changed in direction depending on an external magnetic field, in which the magnetization pinned layer or nonmagnetic intermediate layer (5) includes an insulator, and a pair of electrodes (1, 9) electrically connected to the magnetoresistive film so as to supply a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film. The magnetization free layer (6) includes a body-centered cubic layer with a body-centered cubic structure, and the thickness of the body-centered cubic layer is 2 nm or more.