A liquid crystal composition is composed of at least three types of mesomorphic compounds. The liquid crystal composition may preferably contain a mesomorphic compound having an indan skeleton represented by the formula (1) or (3) and a mesomorphic compound having a terminal cyclic group represented by the formula (2) or (4). The liquid crystal composition may also preferably further contain an optically active compound to be formulated as a chiral smectic (or ferroelectric) liquid crystal composition. When the chiral smectic liquid crystal composition is disposed between a pair of electrode substrates provided with uniaxial alignment axes, the liquid crystal composition may preferably be placed in an alignment state in C1 uniform alignment, so that a resultant liquid crystal device provides a higher contrast ratio and a wider drive voltage margin.