microtransaction

noun

mi·​cro·​trans·​ac·​tion ˌmī-krō-tran-ˈzak-shən How to pronounce microtransaction (audio)
-tran(t)-ˈsak-
plural microtransactions
: an online transaction involving a small amount of currency
And each time a song is streamed on one of those platforms, a microtransaction occurs, ranging from around .001 to .005 cents per play.John Klyce
especially : such a transaction made within a video game (as to purchase exclusive content or competitive advantage)
The microtransactions that most mobile games are built on—$1 here, $5 there—can add up quickly. Seth Schiesel
Is it entirely legal for companies with business models based mainly on microtransactions to target young gamers who may not fully understand that they are incurring a charge when they purchase things with in-game currency? Eric Neigher
Blizzard [Entertainment] famously touted last week that "Diablo Immortal" made $24 million in its first two weeks purely from microtransaction purchases. Josh Rouse

Examples of microtransaction in a Sentence

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.
Thanks to Microsoft’s backing (Compulsion was acquired by Xbox in 2018), the development team was able to expand, allowing the studio to focus on making something true to their vision instead of just another bloated AAA game chasing rote trends like live service nonsense or microtransactions. Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025 After handling controversial topics like the push for microtransactions and NFTs, the latest season shifts the focus to post-COVID topics while retaining its gleeful tone. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 Dogecoin’s appeal lies in its utility for microtransactions. Frank Holmes, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 Over the four years of its existence, the show has tackled many topics plaguing the games industry such as the rise of microtransactions, crunch culture, and, most recently, obsession with deploying AI. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for microtransaction 

Word History

Etymology

micro- + transaction

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microtransaction was in 1995

Dictionary Entries Near microtransaction

Cite this Entry

“Microtransaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microtransaction. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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