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
Allison Lui, Notre Dame-Belmont softball: Lui pitched a complete game in a 3-1 win over Notre Dame-San Jose, allowing just an unearned run and hitting a single to key NDB’s three-run rally in the top half of the seventh inning.
—
Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
But their efforts weren’t enough on a night when the bullpen gave up six runs and the defense made a pair of errors that led to two unearned runs.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2025
Hernandez has given up one unearned run in 29 1/3 innings while going 6-0 with 58 strikeouts and three walks.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Snell made two starts, going five innings against the Detroit Tigers in the home opener, then going four innings and giving up five unearned runs against the Braves on Wednesday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unearned
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Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
But their efforts weren’t enough on a night when the bullpen gave up six runs and the defense made a pair of errors that led to two unearned runs.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2025
Hernandez has given up one unearned run in 29 1/3 innings while going 6-0 with 58 strikeouts and three walks.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Snell made two starts, going five innings against the Detroit Tigers in the home opener, then going four innings and giving up five unearned runs against the Braves on Wednesday.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 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 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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