What is the amount to be paid to a bondholder at maturity called?

The amount to be paid to a bondholder at maturity is referred to as the face value of the bond. This is the principal amount that the issuer agrees to repay to the bondholder when the bond reaches its maturity date. It represents the original value of the bond as stated on its certificate and is important for understanding the return an investor will receive when the bond matures.

While redemption value can sometimes refer to the amount that must be paid at maturity, it typically implies the value of the bond when the issuer redeems it early, which could differ from the face value. Market value denotes the price at which a bond is currently trading in the financial markets, which can fluctuate based on interest rates and other economic factors. Similarly, nominal value is another term often used interchangeably with face value but can occasionally refer more broadly to stated values and not specifically to the payment due at maturity.

Overall, face value is the most precise term in this context for the amount that a bondholder will receive at maturity.