$LiNbO_{3}$ single crystals (undoped, 5 mol% MgO-doped and 5 mol% ZnO-doped) were grown by the floating zone method which has the characteristics of a compositional homogeneity and uniform distribution of the dopants. The optimum growth condition was established experimentally and the defect structures such as domain structure, dislocation structure, slip band, and microtwins were characterized using a microscopic method.