The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device comprising a retardation layer wherein an in-plane slow axis of the retardation layer is within the direction of 90±40 degrees relative to to an absorption axis of the polarizing layer disposed at a closer position to the retardation layer; Re(550) meets following relation, 25 nm≦Re(550)≦230 nm; R[40°] of the retardation layer which is measured for incident light in a direction tilted by 40 degrees toward the tilt direction of the retardation layer relative to the normal line of the retardation layer meets following relation, 0 nm≦R[40°]≦300 nm; and R[+40°] of the retardation layer and retardation R[−40°] of the retardation layer meet following relation, 1