To obtain a ferroelectric liq. crystal display which exhibits a high contrast and a unified alignment in all the pixels by using a ferroelectric liq. crystal contg. at least one kind of smectic liq. crystal and having a dielectric anisotropy lower than O.

The ferroelectric liq. crystal contains at least one kind of smectic liq. crystal represented by formula I or VI (wherein A is a group represented by one of formulas II to V; R and R' are each a 5-10C linear or branched alkyl or alkoxy; X and Y are each H or F provided at least one of them is F; and Z is a single bond or -OCO-. Pref., the pretilt angles of molecules of the ferroelectric liq. crystal are each 5-10°. Pref., the ferroelectric liq. crystal has a dielectric anisotropy of -1 or lower and a spontaneous polarization of 10 nC/cm2 or lower.