face value

noun

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Definition of face value

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 So my investment in the success of England’s soccer team, at face value, doesn’t make much sense. — Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 9 July 2021 Taken at face value, these brand efforts might appear compelling. — Lindsey Tramuta, Fortune, 5 July 2021 Experimenting with hybrid practices and learning based on the insights is key, Hotham advised, as well as drilling down beyond what seems obvious at face value from your data sets — and being ready to adapt. — Forbes, 29 June 2021 But experts say the term should be taken at face value: flying objects that don’t yet have accepted identification. — Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 25 June 2021 In fact, taken at face value, the inflation goal may have already been hit. — Greg Ip, WSJ, 16 June 2021 The confession divided public opinion: While some took Constance’s words at face value, others believed she had been manipulated by Wagner, or was protecting the real culprit. — Michelle Nijhuis, The Atlantic, 16 June 2021 One more thing: as of this writing, there are still tickets available on SeatGeek at face value for every one of the thirty Springsteen shows. — Eric Fuller, Forbes, 15 June 2021 The then-President astounded his own team and the rest of the world by publicly taking the poker-faced Putin's denial of election interference at face value. — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'face value.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.