face value

noun

1

: the value indicated on the face (as of a postage stamp or a stock certificate)

2

: the apparent value or significance

if their remarks may be taken at face value

Examples of face value in a Sentence

We paid $100 for tickets that had a face value of $50.

Recent Examples on the Web

To combat scalpers, tickets could not be resold for more than face value. —Jade Gomez, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024

The bank is seeking to pay less than face value for the roughly $17 billion in loans on the Apple Card because of elevated losses on the cards, the person familiar with the matter said. —Hugh Son, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024

The top hospitality tickets at the Nassau County Stadium had a face value of $10,000 (£7,800) and ordinary tickets were changing hands for more than $1,000 on the secondary market. —Matt Slater, The Athletic, 26 July 2024

The filing also details various financial agreements, including convertible notes with face values of $1,051,664 and secured promissory notes with face values of $101,550. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

face value

noun

1

: the value indicated on the face of something (as a coin, bill, bond, or insurance policy)

2

: the apparent worth or significance

can't take what he says at face value

Legal Definition

face value

noun

: the value indicated on the face of something (as a stock certificate)