microtransaction

noun

mi·​cro·​trans·​ac·​tion ˌmī-krō-tran-ˈzak-shən 

-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

But the game charges players for a slew of in-game items and experiences — known among gamers as microtransactions — such as costumes and dance moves. —John Tufts Eric Lagatta indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Dec. 2024

But the game charges players for a slew of in-game items and experiences – known among gamers as microtransactions – such as costumes and dance moves. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

The biggest changes are the welcome removal of microtransactions and the ability to play offline. —Andrew Webster, The Verge, 2 Dec. 2024

Most existing blockchains are incapable of processing the vast number of microtransactions that AI agents might generate. —Andrey Sergeenkov, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

micro- + transaction

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above