贬值 (biǎn zhí) literally combines 贬 (biǎn), meaning 'to lower' or 'to devalue', and 值 (zhí), meaning 'value' or 'worth'. Together, they form a verb meaning 'to depreciate' — specifically, a decrease in the monetary value of something, most commonly currency, assets, or goods. It is frequently used in economic, financial, and business contexts to describe losses in purchasing power or exchange rate declines.

The term often appears in news reports, policy discussions, and financial analyses — for example, when a central bank intervenes to stabilize a weakening currency or when inflation erodes real wages. While it can apply metaphorically (e.g., 'the value of trust has depreciated'), its primary and most frequent usage is technical and quantitative, referring to measurable reductions in market or nominal value. It implies a downward shift relative to a benchmark, such as another currency or a previous time point.