A liquid crystal composition that has a positive dielectric anisotropy, and consists essentially of at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (1), at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (2) and at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (3), and optionally contains at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (4) and/or optionally contains at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (5) :
- wherein, in formula (1), R1 is 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 at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine;
- and a is an integer from 0 to 12;
- in formula (2), R2 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons;
- ring A and ring B are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl or tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl;
- Z1 and Z2 are independently a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy or difluoromethyleneoxy;
- X1, X2, X3, X4 and X5 are independently hydrogen or fluorine;
- Y1 is fluorine, chlorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen, or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen;
- b and c are independently 0, 1, or 2;
- and a sum of b and c is 2;
- in formula (3), R3 and R4 are independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen, or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine;
- ring C, ring D and ring E are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene;
- Z3 and Z4 are independently a single bond, ethylene, methyleneoxy or carbonyloxy;
- d is 0, 1 or 2;
- and when d is 1, ring D is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene;
- in formula (4), R5 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons;
- ring F is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl or tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl;
- Z5 is a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy or difluoromethyleneoxy;
- X6 and X7 are independently hydrogen or fluorine;
- Y2 is fluorine, chlorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen, or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen;
- e is 1, 2, 3 or 4;
- and wherein, when e is 3 or 4, all of Z5 are a single bond, ethylene or carbonyloxy;
- in formula (5), R6 and R7 are independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons, alkenyloxy having 2 to 12 carbons, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen, or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine;
- ring G and ring J are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, 1,4-phenyl ene, 1,4-phenylene in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine, or tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl;
- ring I is 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2-chloro-3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,3-difluoro-5-methyl-1,4-phenylene, 3,4,5-trifluoronaphthalene-2,6-diyl or 7,8-difluorochroman-2,6-diyl;
- Z6 and Z7 are independently a single bond, ethylene, methyleneoxy or carbonyloxy;
- f is 1, 2 or 3;
- g is 0 or 1;
- and a sum off and g is 3 or less.