A nematic liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, comprising one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IA) and (IB) of 10-70% by mass, one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IIA) to (IID) of 10-70% by mass, the total content of one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IA) to (IID) being 35-80% by mass, and a compound represented by (III) of 20-65% by mass: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.14 each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, etc.; Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.11 each independently represents a single bond, etc.; Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.6 and Z.sup.9 to Z.sup.11 each independently represents --CF.sub.2O--, etc.; l and m represent 0 or 1; rings A, B, C and D represent a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, etc.; and rings B, C and D represent a trans-1,4-cyclohexenylene group.