A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates being disposed so as to oppose to each other and having electrodes and alignment films formed respectively on the opposing surfaces thereof, and liquid crystal layer in which nematic liquid crystal encapsulated between the pair of substrates is aligned in the horizontal direction to be at substantially 0° in twist angle by giving a pretilt in a predetermined direction by the alignment film, a polarizing plate(s) being arranged on the front side and back side of the liquid crystal panel and being set in direction of polarization to provide a black level when a drive voltage to be applied between the electrodes is brought into an OFF state, and optical compensating means disposed between the polarizing plate(s) and the liquid crystal panel for performing optical compensation for the liquid crystal layer.