Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element (an organic EL element) having improved luminous efficiency, satisfactorily ensured operation stability and a simple structure. The organic EL element comprises a substrate, an anode and a cathode both laminated on the substrate, and an organic layer arranged between the anode and the cathode, wherein the organic layer is at least one layer selected from a light emitting layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer and a hole blocking layer and contains a carbazole compound represented by formula (1). In the organic EL element, when the carbazole compound is contained in a light emitting layer containing a phosphorescent dopant and a host material, the carbazole compound is contained as the host material. In formula (1), X represents C-Y or a nitrogen atom; Y represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, or an aromatic group; n represents an integer of 2 to 4; A represents a n-valent aromatic group; L represents a direct bond, or a bivalent aromatic group; and R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a cycloalkyl group.