In the crystal of the title Schiff base compound, C13H9ClN2O2, [CNBA; systematic name: (E)-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)methanimine], the CNBA molecule shows whole-molecule disorder (occupancy ratio 0.65:0.35), with the disorder components related by a twofold rotation about the shorter axis of the molecule. The aromatic rings are inclined to each other by 39.3 (5)degrees in the major component and by 35.7 (9)degrees in the minor component. In the crystal, C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds predominate in linking the major components, while weak C-H center dot center dot center dot Cl interactions predominate in linking the minor components. The result is the formation of corrugated layers lying parallel to the ac plane. The crystal packing was analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis and compared with related structures.