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
Snitker’s take on recent Austin Riley errors Third baseman Austin Riley’s error leading off the sixth inning Sunday led to two unearned runs on Gavin Sheets’ two-out, two-run homer off Schwellenbach.
—
David O'Brien, New York Times, 26 May 2025
The Royals added another run in the seventh on a walk, sacrifice and RBI triple from pinch hitter RJ De La Rosa Noel Moreno pitched well for Venice, allowing only an unearned run until leaving the game in the seventh.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Right fielder Watson dropped a fly leading to LMU’s two unearned runs in the seventh.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
The Phillies nicked Marquez for an unearned run in the fourth when leadoff hitter Bryson Stott reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 22 May 2025
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David O'Brien, New York Times, 26 May 2025
The Royals added another run in the seventh on a walk, sacrifice and RBI triple from pinch hitter RJ De La Rosa Noel Moreno pitched well for Venice, allowing only an unearned run until leaving the game in the seventh.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Right fielder Watson dropped a fly leading to LMU’s two unearned runs in the seventh.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
The Phillies nicked Marquez for an unearned run in the fourth when leadoff hitter Bryson Stott reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 22 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unearned
adjective
un·earned
ˌən-ˈərnd 
ˈən-
: not gained by labor, service, or skill
unearned income
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