The polymerizable compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (1) below and can provide a composition that is polymerizable near ambient temperature and exists in a liquid crystal phase at low temperatures. The composition and a (co)polymer of the polymerizable compound of the present invention are liquid crystal substances useful as optically anisotropic materials. ##STR00001## (In the formula, each of rings A.sub.1 to A.sub.3 represents a benzene ring, cyclohexane ring, etc.; each of X to Z represents a C.sub.1-8 alkyl or alkoxy group, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl group, halogen atom, cyano group, or CH.sub.2.dbd.CR.sub.3--COO--; each of R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, methyl group, or halogen atom; each of L.sub.1 to L.sub.3 represents --CH.sub.2CH.sub.2COO--, --COO--, --OCO--, --CH.sub.2CH.sub.2--, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.f-- (herein, f=1-8), etc.; n represents 0 or 1; and a to c represent such numbers that the polymerizable compound has at least one or more of any of X, Y, and Z).