market value

American  

noun

1. the value of a business, property, etc., in terms of what it can be sold for on the open market; current value (distinguished from book value).

2. market price.

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market value British  

noun

1. the amount obtainable on the open market for the sale of property, financial assets, or goods and services Compare par value book value

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Etymology

Origin of market value

First recorded in 1685–95

Compare meaning

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

• par value vs. market value

Example Sentences

To qualify, the damage to the property must exceed $100,000 of current market value, according to the county treasurer.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The total cost of the sale has not been disclosed but BBC Scotland News understands it was below market value.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Intesa said its offer would create the second-largest bank in the eurozone by market value, behind Banco Santander, with a network of 3,000 branches.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Zealand Pharma lost a fifth of its market value on Monday after a late-stage trial found many patients stopped taking a weight-loss drug due to tolerability problems.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

The company had $100 million in cash in the bank, was still generating $100 million a year of free cash flow—and had a market value of only $250 million!

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis