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):wherein R1 and R4 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; Z1 is a
single bond,
ethylene, carbonyloxy, or difluoromethyleneoxy; X1 and X2 are each independently
hydrogen or
fluorine; Y is
fluorine,
chlorine or trifluoromethoxy; n is 1, 2, or 3; and p is 0 or 1.