A novel liquid crystal ester compound which is useful as a component for TN type nematic liquid crystal composition, raising its nematic-isotropic liquid phase-isotropic liquid . phase transition point without increasing its viscosity and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which ester compound is expressed by the formula
wherein R' represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
represents
; Y represents -COO- or -OCO-; any of
represent
n represents 0 or 1; and Z represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom of F, Cf or Br.