A liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula (1), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula (2): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, an alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons and an alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, an alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons, an alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons and an alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; Z.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy and methyleneoxy; X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine and chlorine; and s is 0 or 1.