Definition

Noun 1. Principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. Refers to the fundamental beliefs that guide a person's or group's actions, decisions, and judgments about what is good, desirable, or worthwhile. 2. (Often in singular form 'value') The regard that something is held to deserve; its importance, worth, or usefulness. While the singular form is more common for this meaning, the plural can be used to refer to multiple assessments of worth.

Examples

• Noun (Principles/Standards):
  • Honesty and integrity are her core values.
  • The company's values include innovation and customer focus.
  • Their cultural values differ significantly from our own.
• Noun (Worth/Importance):
  • We need to assess the values of these different approaches. (i.e., their respective worth)
  • The report compared the nutritional values of various fruits.

Advanced Usage

• "To hold something in high value" / "To value something highly": To consider something very important or worthy. This is related to the concept of personal values.
  • She holds honesty in the highest value.
• "A clash of values": A situation where the fundamental beliefs of different people or groups conflict.
  • The negotiation failed due to a fundamental clash of values.

Variants and Related Words

• Value (noun): The singular form, used for the importance, worth, or monetary worth of something (e.g., , ).
• Value (verb): To consider something important or beneficial; to estimate the monetary worth of something.
  • I value your opinion.
  • The jeweler will value the necklace.
• Valuable (adjective): Worth a great deal; extremely useful or important.
• Valued (adjective): Considered to be important or beneficial; held in high esteem.

Synonyms

• Principles: Fundamental truths or propositions that serve as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.
• Ethics: Moral principles that govern a person's behavior.
• Morals: Standards of behavior based on ideas about what is good and bad.
• Standards: A level of quality or attainment used as a measure or model.

Related Phrases

• Family values: Principles traditionally learned within a family unit, often emphasizing concepts like loyalty, respect, and tradition.
• Core values: The fundamental, foundational beliefs of a person or organization.
• Shared values: Principles or standards that are held in common by a group.

Related Idioms

• "Something is of no value": Something is worthless or unimportant.
  • That advice is of no value to me.
• "Take something at face value": To accept something as it appears, without looking for a hidden meaning.
  • Don't take his comment at face value; he was being sarcastic.

Noun

1. beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something)
   • he has very conservatives values