face value
Americannoun
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the value printed on the face of a stock, bond, or other financial instrument or document.
-
apparent value.
Do not accept promises at face value.
noun
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the value written or stamped on the face of a commercial paper or coin
-
apparent worth or value, as opposed to real worth
Etymology
Origin of face value
First recorded in 1875–80
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One way to make that kind of money is through ticket prices, with the face value for tickets to this tournament nearly four times higher than the tournament in Qatar four years ago.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
The settlement, which requires court approval, would limit Live Nation’s exclusive ticketing contracts with venues and impose a 15% cap on fees added to the face value of tickets.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
He’s kept the tickets from Sixers fans and sold them at face value to New Yorkers cheering for the Knicks.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
World Cup matches in Toronto can also only be sold for their original price because of the Ontario government's recent ban on reselling event tickets above face value.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
He had intended his protest in innocence—but it was received at more than its face value.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
