par value

American  

noun

1. face value.

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par value British  

noun

1. Also called: face value.  the value imprinted on the face of a share certificate or bond and used to assess dividend, capital ownership, or interest Compare market value book value

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Etymology

Origin of par value

First recorded in 1800–10

Compare meaning

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

• par value vs. face value
• par value vs. market value

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

par value

To calculate enterprise value, Strategy adds the market value of its common stock to the principal amount of its debt and the par value of its preferred stock, then subtracts cash.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Its dividend rate is fixed monthly to encourage trading around the stock’s $100 par value and to reduce price volatility, according to Strategy itself.

From Barron's ● May 5, 2026

The sale price for the February deal, at 99.7% of par value, looked remarkably high, considering the recent pressure on private-credit valuations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Blue Owl highlighted that the loan sales were for 99.7% of par value, which it said was evidence of the confidence that large, experienced buyers have in its direct lending platform.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 19, 2026

The shares were of a par value of $100. and aggregated $500,000 of which $250,000 was paid in.

From The Rise of Cotton Mills in the South by Broadus Mitchell