A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes three components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1), the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (2-1) to (2-3), and the third component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (3): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; R.sup.3 is fluorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; R.sup.5 is fluorine, chlorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; R.sup.6 is alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; Y.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine or trifluoromethoxy; X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3 and X.sup.4 are each independently hydrogen or fluorine; and one of X.sup.5 and X.sup.6 is fluorine, and the other is hydrogen.