The invention discloses a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes first and second electrodes disposed correspondingly on upper and lower surfaces of the substrate so as to change the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the plane parallel to the substrate. Each pixel has a third electrode opposite the substrate. A liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules is sandwiched between the substrate and the third electrode. The first electrode and the third electrode can generate an electric field in the direction perpendicular to the substrate in the liquid crystal layer.