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 formulas (1-1) and (1-2), the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds having a group represented by formula (2), and the third component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (3-1) and (3-2): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons, or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; ring A is independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, or 2,5-pyrimidine; ring B, ring C, ring D and ring F are each independently 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; ring E is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z.sup.1 is a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy, or difluoromethyleneoxy; X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen or fluorine; Y is fluorine, chlorine or trifluoromethoxy; n is 1, 2, or 3; and p is 0 or 1.