The two phenyl rings of the biphenyl unit of the title compound, C(18)H(13)NO(3), are almost coplanar [dihedral angle 6.70 (9)°]. The nitro-phenyl ring, on the other hand, is significantly twisted out of the plane of the these two rings, making dihedral angles of 68.83 (4)° with the middle ring and 62.86 (4)° with the end ring. The nitro group is twisted by 12.1 (2)° out of the plane of the phenyl ring to which it is attached.