There is provided an electroluminescent element using a material that is excellent in film forming properties and carrier transporting properties, emits a light in the solid state, and can be suitably used also as a host material. The electroluminescent element has an electroluminescence layer between a couple of electrodes, and a complex of a Group 4 metal of the periodic table, which is excellent in the film forming properties and the carrier transporting properties and capable of emitting a light in the solid state, is used in a part of the electroluminescence layer to form the electroluminescent element. The complex of a Group 4 metal of the periodic table has an emission wavelength on a longer wavelength side as compared with conventional host materials such as Alq.sub.3, and thereby may be combined with a red light emitting guest material to form a light emitting layer.