This　paper　presents　the　role　of　superabsorbent　polymer　(SAP)　on　strength　and　microstructure　development　in　cemented　clays　with　notably　high　water　content.　A　series　of　unconfined　compressive　strength　(UCS),　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　tests　were　performed　to　identify　strength　behavior　and　microstructure.　Results　showed　that　SAP　significantly　influenced　the　mechanical　behavior　of　cemented　clays　with　notably　high　water　content,　characterized　by　an　increase　in　the　unconfined　compressive　strength　and　a　decrease　in　the　after-curing　water　content　with　SAP　content.　This　revealed　that　the　strength　increase　due　to　SAP　was　directly　related　to　the　water　absorption　by　SAP.　Meanwhile,　XRD　results　showed　that　the　hydration　products　were　controlled　by　cement　and　lime　content,　regardless　of　SAP　content.　That　meant　there　was　no　chemical　reaction　between　SAP　particles　used　in　this　study　and　cement　or　lime.　The　microstructure　analysis　by　SEM　revealed　that　SAP　played　an　important　role　in　the　microstructure　of　cemented　clays.　With　an　increase　in　SAP　content,　the　water　absorbed　by　SAP　increased　significantly,　leading　to　a　decrease　in　the　pore　volume　and　a　denser　soil　fabric.　This　behavior　indicated　that　the　primary　role　of　SAP　on　strength　increase　was　to　absorb　and　fix　water　in　cemented　clays.　Consequently,　the　clay-cement　cluster　distance　decreased　with　an　increase　in　solid　mass　(soil　particles　and　swollen　SAP　particles)　and　a　decrease　in　pore　water.　The　corresponding　tighter　flocculated　fabric　due　to　SAP　eventually　led　to　the　strength　increase.　©　2018　by　the　authors.