face value
"face-value" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“face value” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 10
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The amount or value listed on a bill, card, note, stamp, etc.; the stated value or amount.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | face value |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 10 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “face value” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
face value is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
face value has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: The term exists because a contrast between nominal value and market value is sometimes materially relevant for currencies. The correct English form is face value, spelled F-A-C-E- -V-A-L-U-E.
Definition
- 1The amount or value listed on a bill, card, note, stamp, etc.; the stated value or amount.
- 2No more or less than what is stated; a literal or direct meaning or interpretation.
Etymology
The term exists because a contrast between nominal value and market value is sometimes materially relevant for currencies.
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “face value”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is F-A-C-E- -V-A-L-U-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.