Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy is used to investigate the dielectric relaxation properties of liquid CS2. The frequency-dependent absorption coefficient and index of refraction were measured in the frequency range 0.2-2.0 THz. The ultrafast dielectric relaxation time of liquid CS2 was determined to be 630+/-30 fs by fitting the dielectric function to the Debye model which is attributed to average time for rocking and rotational response of the CS2 molecules possessing an anisotropic polarizability. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.