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 Phillies would add an unearned run in the seventh inning off right-hander John Schreiber.
—
Kansas City Star,
5 July 2026
After allowing just 24 unearned runs through their first 74 games, the Yankees allowed 21 from June 20 to the end of the month, more than double any team in baseball.
—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
4 July 2026
The right-hander followed that start with three straight eight-inning outings, allowing one run to the Washington Nationals, one to the Chicago Cubs (unearned) and two to the Miami Marlins.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 July 2026
Cincinnati extended its lead to 5-0 by scoring four unearned runs in the fourth inning.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for unearned
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kansas City Star,
5 July 2026
After allowing just 24 unearned runs through their first 74 games, the Yankees allowed 21 from June 20 to the end of the month, more than double any team in baseball.
—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
4 July 2026
The right-hander followed that start with three straight eight-inning outings, allowing one run to the Washington Nationals, one to the Chicago Cubs (unearned) and two to the Miami Marlins.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 July 2026
Cincinnati extended its lead to 5-0 by scoring four unearned runs in the fourth inning.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for unearned
Cite this Entry
“Unearned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearned. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
