The invention discloses an electrolyte for inhibiting the growth of lithium dendrites and a lithium battery. The electrolyte comprises an additive, a lithium salt and an organic solvent. The additiveincludes at least one in the group consisting of lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium perchlorate, lithium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonate, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, lithium fluoroborate, trilithium hexafluoroaluminate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, lithium fluoride, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, lithium nitrate, lithium polysulfide, lithium nitride, lithium phosphide, lithium oxalateborate, lithium oxide, lithium sulfite, lithium sulfate, lithium acetate, lithium hydroxide and lithium oxalate, and the lithium salt is different from the additive. According to the lithium battery containing an additive, a layer of solid electrolyte membrane can be formed on a surface of the lithium metal negative electrode during charge and discharge, and the polymerization of the electrolyte can be induced to form an oligomer which covers a surface of a lithium negative electrode and a surface of a positive electrode material matched with the lithium negative electrode. The protective layer can effectively inhibit the growth of the lithium dendrites, and therefore, the safety performance of the battery is improved.