Subject The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of the nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of the nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The subject is also to provide the AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life, and so forth.
Means for Solving the Subject The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having a negatively dielectric anisotropy containing a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing this composition.