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
Jack Clark University City Baseball Allowing one unearned run in five innings, the senior kept the Centurions close in a 2-1 SoCal Regional Division 4 championship game setback to Oxnard Pacifica.
—
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
When the concern is genuinely about people taking the unearned, that must apply to every individual who does so, native-born or not.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Orange County Register, 3 June 2024
Two of them came in the second inning, resulting in two unearned runs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2024
For the Rays, Zack Littell (2-3) gave up three unearned runs, five hits and struck out nine over seven innings.
—Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for unearned 
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
When the concern is genuinely about people taking the unearned, that must apply to every individual who does so, native-born or not.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Orange County Register, 3 June 2024
Two of them came in the second inning, resulting in two unearned runs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2024
For the Rays, Zack Littell (2-3) gave up three unearned runs, five hits and struck out nine over seven innings.
—Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for unearned
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unearned.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unearned
Cite this Entry
“Unearned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearned. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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