unearned

American

[uhn-urnd] / ʌnˈɜrnd /

adjective

not received in exchange for labor or services; not gained by lawful work or employment.
not earned; unmerited; undeserved.

unearned promotion.
not yet earned.

Lenders are not permitted to take borrowers' unearned wages as collateral.

unearned British

/ ʌnˈɜːnd /

adjective

not deserved
not yet earned

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unearned

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at un- ¹, earn ¹, -ed ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

unearned

Both Social Security retirement and disability benefits are considered unearned income for SSI purposes.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

If Ms. Orton sang like her 19-year-old self, had the songs been tight constructions manicured by a hired-gun songwriter, had her insights felt unearned, such a declaration could have come across as trite.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

By buying a flat in London in 1988, I've arguably enjoyed an unearned advantage.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

But every once in a while, we get a little wink, an ounce of good luck, an unearned gift, a happy accident, and this recipe falls in that category.

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026

If I pay the whole amount before the due date, you will refund the unearned portion of the finance charge.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023