A liquid crystal medium having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase is described, which has stability to heat, light and so on, a broad temperature range of liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy. A liquid crystal composition is described, which includes an achiral component T and a chiral dopant and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The achiral component T contains, as its first component, at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (1), wherein R1 is C1-10 alkyl, the rings A1 to A6 are 1,4-phenylene, Z1 to Z7 are single bonds, Y1 and Y2 are fluorine; X1 is halogen, and i, j, k, m, n, p and q are independently 0 or 1.