face value

[feys val-yoo, feys val-yoo]

noun

1. the value printed on the face of a stock, bond, or other financial instrument or document.

2. apparent value.

   Do not accept promises at face value.

face value

noun

1. the value written or stamped on the face of a commercial paper or coin

2. apparent worth or value, as opposed to real worth

Word History and Origins

Origin of face value¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Idioms and Phrases

see at face value.

Example Sentences

Was I wrong to have taken what he told me at face value?

From BBC

The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward showed with his comments before and after the Kazakhstan game that we perhaps should not take each one of his public utterances at face value.

From BBC

Instead, Maxwell served up a bunch of lies and deflections that he mostly accepted at face value.

From Salon

The trick to figuring out the truth is accepting nothing at face value and comprehending that what we imagined for ourselves may not be preferable to what’s right in front of us.

From Salon

Unfortunately, much of the media took the bait, accepting at face value the Republican claims that this a major probe.

From Salon