Provided is a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one physical property from among having excellent stability with respect to heat, light, or the like, a high clearing point, a low liquid-crystal-phase lower limit temperature, a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant, and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. The compound is represented by formula (1). In formula (1): R1 and R2 represent C1-15 alkyl groups; ring A1 and ring A2 represent 1, 4-cyclohexylene or 1, 4-phenylene; Z1 and Z2 represent single bonds, -(CH2)2-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, -COO-, -OCO-, -CH2O-, -OCH2-, -CF2O-, -OCF2-, or -CF=CF-; a and b represent 0, 1, or 2; and the sum of a and b is 1 or 2.