face value
C1Formal, neutral, idiomatic
Definition
Meaning
The nominal value printed or written on something (like a coin, banknote, or financial instrument).
The apparent worth or meaning of something, taken at its surface without looking for deeper significance or hidden motives.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase operates predominantly as a noun phrase, often used in the prepositional construction 'at face value'. It has two main semantic domains: finance (literal) and figurative/critical thinking (metaphorical). The figurative sense implies a potential warning against gullibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic or grammatical differences. Spelling and usage are identical. The term is equally common in both financial and figurative contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: cautionary in figurative use, factual in financial use.
Frequency
Equally frequent and natural in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
take NP at face valueaccept NP at face valueNP is worth its face valuejudge NP by its face valueVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't take anything at face value.”
- “It's not worth its face value.”
- “More than meets the eye (related antonymic concept).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the redemption value of a bond or the principal amount of a financial instrument.
Academic
Used in critical thinking, media literacy, and philosophical texts to discuss epistemology and skepticism.
Everyday
Commonly used to advise caution: 'You can't take his promises at face value.'
Technical
In finance, a precise term for the value stated on a security.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bank will face-value the bond upon maturity.
- Shares cannot be face-valued below their nominal amount.
American English
- The treasury will face-value the note when it comes due.
- The contract specifies how to face-value the instrument.
adverb
British English
- He accepted the offer almost face-value, which was unwise.
- The statement should not be taken face-value.
American English
- She interpreted the comment face-value and got offended.
- You read the proposal too face-value; there are hidden costs.
adjective
British English
- The face-value amount is clearly marked.
- It was a face-value assessment, lacking deeper analysis.
American English
- Check the face-value price before purchasing.
- His face-value judgement proved to be incorrect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The coin has a face value of one pound.
- Do not believe everything at face value.
- The stamp's face value is low, but collectors will pay more.
- I took her apology at face value and forgave her.
- Bonds are often sold at a discount to their face value.
- A good journalist never takes official statements at face value.
- The debenture's face value remains constant, though its market price fluctuates wildly.
- His affability was merely a façade; those who accepted it at face value were later exploited.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a coin: the 'face' (the side with the portrait) shows the 'value' (like 1 pound). To accept it 'at face value' is to believe the number printed on it without testing if it's real gold.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCES ARE SURFACES (to accept at face value is to not look beneath the surface). TRUTH IS A HIDDEN DEPTH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'лицевая стоимость' in figurative contexts; it's unnatural. For the figurative sense, use 'воспринимать буквально', 'принимать за чистую монету', or 'судить по внешнему виду'.
- The financial term 'номинальная стоимость' is correct for the literal meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'in face value' instead of the correct prepositional phrase 'at face value'.
- Confusing 'face value' with 'market value' in financial contexts.
- Misspelling as 'facevalue' (should be two words).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'face value' used in its PRIMARY LITERAL sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has two main uses. The original, literal use is financial (the value printed on money, stamps, or bonds). The more common everyday use is figurative, meaning to accept something as it appears without suspicion or deeper analysis.
The almost universal preposition is 'at'. The standard phrase is 'to take/accept something at face value'. Using 'in', 'by', or 'for' is incorrect.
In finance, 'face value' (or nominal value) is the static value printed on the instrument (e.g., a $100 bond). 'Market value' is the price it would currently sell for on the open market, which can be higher or lower than the face value based on demand, interest rates, etc.
Yes, though less common. It can be used attributively in phrases like 'the face-value amount' or in a figurative sense like 'a face-value interpretation'. However, the noun phrase in the construction 'at face value' is vastly more frequent.