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 right-hander, who is expected to return to his old role out of the bullpen after several years working as a starter, allowed one hit, no walks and an unearned run while striking out one over his lone inning of work.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Both at home and at work, the series just keeps relying on this soft misogyny for awkward situations where the audience is meant to laugh at female characters’ immaturity or unearned boastfulness.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
Less than a week later, Rhode Island lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at Oregon that was decided on an unearned run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
—Mitch Light, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
In the early frames, the Sox were felled by the same issues that cost them so many games the year before: too many errors, unearned runs, and men left on base.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Both at home and at work, the series just keeps relying on this soft misogyny for awkward situations where the audience is meant to laugh at female characters’ immaturity or unearned boastfulness.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
Less than a week later, Rhode Island lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at Oregon that was decided on an unearned run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
—Mitch Light, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
In the early frames, the Sox were felled by the same issues that cost them so many games the year before: too many errors, unearned runs, and men left on base.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 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 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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