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

That’s a mark-up of nearly 900 percent from their $15 face value. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025

By some reports, fans have paid as much as 70 times the face value of a ticket price to obtain a ticket. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

The White House claimed that some reports show fans pay as much as 70 times the face value of tickets when buying from scalpers, with none of the profit going to the artists. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025

Hypothetical Scenarios Consider a bond with a face value of $100 and a 10-year maturity. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for face value

• eigenvalue
• undervalue

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)