Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device

A liquid crystal composition that has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and consists essentially of at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1) as a first component, at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a second component, and at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (3) as a third component:

• wherein, in formula (1), R1 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, or alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen;
• and R2 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons;
• in formula (2), 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 halogen;
• ring A and ring B are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene;
• Z1 is a single bond, ethylene or carbonyloxy;
• and a is 1, 2 or 3;
• in formula (3), R5 and R6 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, or alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by halogen;
• ring C and ring E are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which at least one piece of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine, or tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl;
• ring D 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;
• Z2 and Z3 are independently a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy or methyleneoxy;
• and b is 0, 1, 2 or 3, c is 0 or 1, and a sum of b and c is 3 or less, and when b is 2, Z2 is a single bond, carbonyloxy or methyleneoxy.