A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds having a group represented by formula (2) as a partial structure: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen, fluorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons; R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons; R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons; ring A and ring B are each independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently a single bond or ethylene; and n and m are each independently 0, 1 or 2, provided that the sum of n and m is 1, 2, 3 or 4.