# microservice

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/microservice
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a small, independent part of a larger computer program that does one specific job. Instead of building one giant app, developers connect many of these small services together.

For teachers: an architectural approach to software development where an application is structured as a collection of small, loosely coupled, and independently deployable services. Each service typically handles a single business capability and communicates via lightweight protocols.

## Examples

- The company moved its website to a microservice architecture to improve speed.
- By using a microservice for the payment system, the team could update the checkout process without affecting the rest of the app.
- Adopting a microservice strategy allows engineering teams to scale individual components of a platform independently, though it introduces significant complexity in managing inter-service communication and data consistency.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural or as a modifier before another noun like 'architecture' or 'pattern'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.