valuation

noun

val·​u·​a·​tion ˌval-yə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce valuation (audio)
1
: the act or process of valuing
specifically : appraisal of property
2
: the estimated or determined market value of a thing
3
: judgment or appreciation of worth or character
valuational
ˌval-yə-ˈwā-sh(ə-)nəl
 How to pronounce valuation (audio)
adjective
valuationally adverb

Examples of valuation in a Sentence

The total included a valuation of the company's assets. The company was acquired at a high valuation. Home valuations are at an all-time high.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even as Wall Street analysts and tech media increasingly question the hype, drawing uneasy comparisons to the late 1990s, the AI industry’s response has been to shrug and watch their valuations tick higher and higher. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 The third anniversary of this bull market just passed, with the S & P 500 having compounded at a 24% annual pace over that span, lifting valuations to the upper edge of the post-pandemic range. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025 Until recently, investors have shrugged off everything from the government shutdown to stretched valuations, buoyed by the AI boom and resilient consumer data. Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025 This comes as companies like Oura, which developed the Oura ring and just announced an $11 billion valuation following a $900 million funding round, are front-runners in the next frontier in preventative health care. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for valuation

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, from valuer "to value entry 2" + -ation -ation

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of valuation was in 1529

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Valuation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valuation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

valuation

noun
val·​u·​a·​tion ˌval-yə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce valuation (audio)
: the value placed on something

Legal Definition

valuation

noun
val·​u·​a·​tion ˌval-yu̇-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce valuation (audio)
1
: the act or process of valuing
actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of a state pension fund
specifically : appraisal of property
valuation of marital property is a factual finding that will not be upset unless clearly erroneous Jensen v. Jensen, 458 N.W.2d 391 (1990)
2
: the estimated or determined value (as market value) of a thing
the total assessed valuation of property in the district

More from Merriam-Webster on valuation

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