A liquid crystal compound is provided that satisfies at least one physical property such as high stability to heat and light, a high clearing point, low minimum temperature of liquid crystal phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, suitable elastic constant and compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. A liquid crystal composition containing the compound and a liquid crystal display device including the composition is also provided. The liquid crystal compound is represented by formula (1) ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, rings A.sup.1, A.sup.3 and A.sup.4 are independently 1,4-phenylene, ring A.sup.2 is a divalent group represented by any one of formulas (Ch), (Cx) and (ch), ##STR00002##
Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3 and Z.sup.4 are a single bond, X.sup.1 is fluorine, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are fluorine, a, b and c are independently 0 or 1, and a sum of a, b and c is 0 or 1.

The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium (LC medium), to the use thereof for electrooptical purposes and to LC displays comprising this medium.