The present invention pertains to: a nematic
liquid crystal composition that is useful as a
liquid crystal display material and exhibits negative
dielectric anisotropy (Δε); and a
liquid crystal display element that uses the nematic liquid
crystal composition. This liquid
crystal composition has a
viscosity (η) that is sufficiently small, a
rotational viscosity (γ1) that is sufficiently small, an elastic constant (K33) that is large, and has a negative
dielectric anisotropy (Δε) with a large absolute value, without reducing the
refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and nematic phase-isotropic
liquid phase transition temperature (Tni). Furthermore, the liquid
crystal composition is capable of providing a
liquid crystal display element that provides a high response speed and excellent display quality, and minimizes or eliminates display defects in vertical-alignment displays, and the like, in which the
liquid crystal display element is used. The
liquid crystal display element, which uses this liquid crystal composition, is useful for
active matrix driven liquid
crystal display elements, and can be used for liquid
crystal display elements in vertical-alignment and
polymer sustained vertical-alignment displays, and the like.