A 2-substituted-alkyl ether having an optically active group and useful as a component of ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which 2-substituted-alkyl ether is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear or branched chain alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy or alkoxycarbonyl of 1 to 18 C; R.sup.2 represents a linear or branched alkyl of 2 to 15 C; ##STR2## each independently represents ##STR3## wherein Y represents cyano, halogen, methyl or methoxy; X represents --OR.sup.3, ##STR4## F, Cl or Br wherein R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 10 C of H; and * indicates asymmetric C.