Abstract: A liquid crystal composition suitable for a guest-host liquid crystal device and the composition comprises a solution of a liquid crystal substance and a pleochroic dye which comprises at least one azo type compound having the formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of which may be substituted by an alkoxy or an aryl group; a cyclohexyl group which may be substituted by an alkyl group; or --COOR.sup.3 (wherein R.sup.3 represents an alkyl group which may be substituted by an alkoxy group, a cyclohexyl group which may be substituted by an alkyl group, or an aryl group which may be substituted by an alkoxy or an alkyl group);R.sub.2 represents ##STR2## where R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each represents an alkyl group which may be substituted by an alkoxy or an aryl group; or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may be connected to each other to form a ring;Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, and alkyl group or an alkoxy group, or Z.sup.