Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device comprising (1) a liquid crystal cell wherein a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal component having positive dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched between a pair of substrates having at least one electrode, (2) a pair of polarizers arranged to sandwich the liquid crystal layer therebetween and (3) a birefringence layer provided between the liquid crystal layer and the polarizer on at least one side of the liquid crystal layer, wherein the angle formed between the maximum refractive index direction in the birefringence layer face and the direction of transmission axis or absorption axis of polarizer adjacent to the birefringence layer is not more than 5.degree..