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face value noun

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
Pavel Luzin, a Russian military analyst, cautioned that the public pronouncements of Russian military commanders should not be taken at face value.
— New York Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Google's outside counsel often accepted Google employees' artificial claims of privilege at face value.
— Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 22 Mar. 2022
These claims, at face value, aren't entirely invalid.
— Gavin Smith, CNN, 21 Mar. 2022
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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.


First Known Use of face value
1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for face value

The first known use of face value was in 1851
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Dictionary Entries Near face value
face validity

face value

face wall

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Statistics for face value
Last Updated

31 Mar 2022

Look-up Popularity
Top 4% of words

Cite this Entry

“Face value.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/face. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.