The present invention relates to a compound having a 2,6-difluorophenylether structure useful as organic electronic materials, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, and in particular, liquid crystal display device materials. Provided are a compound represented by general formula (1): and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound and a liquid crystal display device that uses the liquid crystal composition. Since the compound represented by general formula (1) is used as a component of a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal composition that exhibits low viscosity and a liquid crystal phase over a wide temperature range can be obtained. Thus, the compound is particularly useful as a component of a liquid crystal composition for high-response-speed liquid crystal display devices.