A polymerizable liquid crystal compound of formula (1). The compound has high optical (refractive index) anisotropy (Δn), exhibits a liquid crystal phase at room temperature (having a broad liquid crystal phase temperature range) without crystallization, has high solubility in cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone or like organic solvents, exhibits excellent coating properties and orientation properties, and, after polymerization, has high transparency. wherein R1 and R2 each represent hydrogen, a methyl group or halogen; rings A to C each represent a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, etc.; at least one of rings A to C is a fused ring; X, Y, and Z each represent a C1 to C6 alkyl group, etc.; L1, L2, and L3 each represent —COO—, —OCO—, —O(CH2)j— (j=1 to 8), etc.; n is 0 or 1, and a to c are numbers such that the polymerizable liquid crystal compound may have at least one of X, Y, and Z.