With a liquid crystal display device comprising an STN liquid crystal element (20) comprised of 200.degree. to 260.degree. twist aligned nematic liquid crystal (6) sandwiched between a first substrate (1) thereof, provided with a reflector (7) and first electrodes (3), and a second substrate (2) thereof, provided with second electrodes (4), a retardation film (12), and a polarizing film 11 that are disposed on the outer side of the second substrate (2) of the STN liquid crystal element, black display of low reflectance can be obtained_in all wavelength regions, thereby enabling bright display in high contrast to be effected by setting a .DELTA.nd value of the STN liquid crystal element 20 indicating a birefringent tendency thereof in a range of 0.7 to 0.8 .mu.m, a retardation value indicating a birefringent tendency of the retardation film (12) in a range of 0.35 to 0.40 .mu.m, and an intersection angle formed by a phase delay axis of the retardation film (12) and an absorption axis or a transmission axis of the polarizing film (11) in a range of 30.degree. to 45.degree..