To provide a long-life organic EL element providing uniform emission over a long time; and to provide an anthracene derivative achieving the EL element.

The anthracene derivative has a heteroaryl group including a nitrogen-containing 6-membered ring, and a specific structure. The organic electroluminescent element has at least one layer in an organic thin film layer, containing the anthracene derivative singly or as a component of a mixture in the organic electroluminescent element obtained by sandwitching the organic thin film layer comprising one or more layers at least including a light-emitting layer between an anode and a cathode.