Novel nematic liquid crystal compounds having a broad nematic temperature range and a positive dielectric anisotropy by themselves, that is, p-cyanophenyl 4-alkyl-4'-biphenylcarboxylates wherein the alkyl is a straight chain alkyl group having 4-8 carbon atoms or a branched alkyl group having 4-7 carbon atoms and having methyl group as branched group, and a method for preparing the same are provided. Further, novel nematic liquid crystal compositions having a broader nematic temper range i.e. a sufficiently lower nematic limit and a sufficiently higher upper nematic limit is provided by using said compounds.