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
That includes allowing an unearned run over five innings in a no-decision against the Padres in mid-June.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Nine false returns, which sought about $2.5 million in unearned tax refunds, were filed between 2019 and 2022 in connection with the scheme, prosecutors said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025
And his last start — Wednesday against the Padres — was seven innings with only one (unearned) run.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 28 July 2025
He's conceded just one unearned run in his last 23 appearances for Pittsburgh.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Nine false returns, which sought about $2.5 million in unearned tax refunds, were filed between 2019 and 2022 in connection with the scheme, prosecutors said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025
And his last start — Wednesday against the Padres — was seven innings with only one (unearned) run.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 28 July 2025
He's conceded just one unearned run in his last 23 appearances for Pittsburgh.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 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 20 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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