face value

American  

[feys val-yoo, feys val-yoo] / ˈfeɪs ˌvæl yu, ˈfeɪs ˈvæl yu /

noun

1. the value printed on the face of a stock, bond, or other financial instrument or document.

2. apparent value.

   Do not accept promises at face value.

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face value British  

noun

1. the value written or stamped on the face of a commercial paper or coin

2. apparent worth or value, as opposed to real worth

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face value Idioms  

1. see at face value.

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Etymology

Origin of face value

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does face-value compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• par value vs. face value

Example Sentences

The prices far exceed face value - between £30 and £150 - and the listings have been online since before tickets were made available to Chelsea season ticket holders via the club on Friday morning.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Haney’s bill would ban reselling tickets at more than 10% above face value in California.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

“Investors no longer seem to take his statements at face value — if anything, they’re beginning to trade against them, waiting for tangible proof before reacting.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

He relies on negotiating partners’ taking his behavior at face value, losing their nerve and getting emotional.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

One reason that Kepler had to go to such lengths was that he could not simply baldly state the facts, because there was no tradition of taking facts at face value.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton