A light emitting device material containing a pyrene compound of formula (1) and a light emitting device. In formula (1), R.sup.1 to R.sup.18 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, arylether, arylthioether, aryl, heteroaryl, halogen, carbonyl, carboxyl, oxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, amino, phosphine oxide and silyl; adjacent substituents among R.sup.1 to R.sup.18 may be combined with each other to form a ring; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; X is --O--, --S-- or --NR.sup.19--; R.sup.19 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl or amino; R.sup.19 may be combined with R.sup.11 or R.sup.18 to form a ring; Y is a single bond, arylene or heteroarylene; and n substituents among R.sup.1 to R.sup.10 and any one of R.sup.11 to R.sup.19 are used for linkage with Y ##STR00001##