Disclosed is a nonaqueous secondary battery using a positive electrode containing a transition metal and lithium. The battery is prevented from deterioration due to elution of the transition metal from the positive electrode and thereby capable of maintaining small internal resistance and high electrical capacity even after high temperature storage or high-temperature charge and discharge cycles. The battery includes a negative electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, a positive electrode containing a transition metal and lithium, and a nonaqueous electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent, the nonaqueous electrolyte containing a polycarboxylic ester compound represented by general formula (1) or (2).