unearned

adjective

un·​earned ˌən-ˈərnd How to pronounce unearned (audio)
1
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
2
: scored as a result of an error by the opposing team
an unearned run

Examples of unearned in a Sentence

Bank interest is regarded as unearned income.
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.
But the brutality becomes off-putting after a while and a tragic plot element in the final act seems unearned. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-4) threw a scoreless ninth and gave up an unearned run in the 10th as Philadelphia won for the 12th time in 14 games. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Héctor Rodríguez hit his fourth homer — a three-run shot that put the Reds ahead 3-2 in the fourth — but Ian Happ walked and scored an unearned run on a throwing error by Rodríguez in right field to tie it in the bottom half. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 While the five-run fourth inning was the difference in the game, and all those runs were unearned, Mize also allowed a run in the third and one in the fifth. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unearned

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unearned was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing unearned

Rhymes for unearned

See All Rhymes for unearned

Browse Nearby Words

unearmarked
unearned
unearned increment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unearned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearned. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unearned

adjective
un·​earned ˌən-ˈərnd How to pronounce unearned (audio)
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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