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
The ball bounced off Merrill’s glove, and two unearned runs scored on the error.
—
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025
Like a glitch in the field, in this case a rare error by Bobby Witt Jr. that enabled an unearned run.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Mendez allowed two unearned runs on one hit and four walks.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Bello allowed only one unearned run over his six innings of work, surrendering a sacrifice fly by Adam Frazier in the top of the fourth after Salvador Perez initially reached on an error at second base.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025
Like a glitch in the field, in this case a rare error by Bobby Witt Jr. that enabled an unearned run.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Mendez allowed two unearned runs on one hit and four walks.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Bello allowed only one unearned run over his six innings of work, surrendering a sacrifice fly by Adam Frazier in the top of the fourth after Salvador Perez initially reached on an error at second base.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
Cite this Entry
“Unearned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearned. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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