Book value is an accounting term that refers to the value of a company's assets listed on its balance sheet. There are several synonyms for book value, including net asset value, carrying value, and accounting value. Net asset value is used primarily in the mutual fund industry to reflect the total value of all the assets held by a particular fund. Carrying value serves as an accounting term that refers to the amount a company anticipates receiving when it sells an asset. Accounting value is often used synonymously with book value to describe the value of a company's assets listed on its balance sheet.