This invention relates to a transmissive liquid crystal display including a light source (BL), a reflective linearly-polarizing layer (Pr1), a birefringent layer (A) having specific optical properties and specific retardation properties, a light source-side absorptive linearly-polarizing layer (P1), a liquid crystal cell (LC), and a viewer-side linearly-polarizing layer (P2) which are arranged in this order. In the transmissive liquid crystal display of the invention, light leakage is suppressed in oblique directions so that black brightness can be reduced. A reduction in contrast in the normal direction can also be suppressed, which is caused by the distribution of light to the normal direction.