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 cynicism, although hardly misplaced, feels thoroughly unearned.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t change the fact, however, that the rebellion itself feels rushed and unearned.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
But let’s be honest ‒ that reputation, not entirely unearned, has followed the profession for years.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
At Monday’s hearing, Judge Paul Richardson said the evidence presented showed that Trauernicht on 20 different occasions approved timesheets that included a total of $42,000 in unearned overtime pay for McFadden.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t change the fact, however, that the rebellion itself feels rushed and unearned.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
But let’s be honest ‒ that reputation, not entirely unearned, has followed the profession for years.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
At Monday’s hearing, Judge Paul Richardson said the evidence presented showed that Trauernicht on 20 different occasions approved timesheets that included a total of $42,000 in unearned overtime pay for McFadden.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 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 24 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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