A projection lens system that projects projected light from a light modulator to a screen, comprising in order from a screen side: a first lens group with a negative refractive power; a second lens group with a positive refractive power; and a third lens group with a positive refractive power is provided. The third lens group includes at least two cemented lenses and a lens with a positive refractive power positioned on an opposite side of the cemented lenses to the screen. Since the projection lens system achieves a sufficiently high correcting performance for various aberrations using fewer aspherical lenses, it is suitable lens system for a rear projector with high image quality.