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
Richardson said in court that the evidence presented showed that Trauernicht on about 20 different occasions approved timesheets that included a total of $42,000 in unearned overtime pay for McFadden.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In the deciding Game 4, Luzardo came out of the bullpen to throw 1 2/3 innings, striking out three batters and allowing two hits and an unearned run.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The unearned income is taxed at the same rate as wages.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Hunter Biden, the poster boy for unearned privilege, just publicly bit the hand that fed him, and in doing so underscored so much of what was wrong in Joe Biden’s administration.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In the deciding Game 4, Luzardo came out of the bullpen to throw 1 2/3 innings, striking out three batters and allowing two hits and an unearned run.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The unearned income is taxed at the same rate as wages.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Hunter Biden, the poster boy for unearned privilege, just publicly bit the hand that fed him, and in doing so underscored so much of what was wrong in Joe Biden’s administration.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 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 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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