unearned

American  

[uhn-urnd] / ʌnˈɜrnd /

adjective

1. not received in exchange for labor or services; not gained by lawful work or employment.

2. not earned; unmerited; undeserved.

   unearned promotion.

3. not yet earned.

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

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unearned British  

/ ʌnˈɜːnd /

adjective

1. not deserved

2. not yet earned

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Etymology

Origin of unearned

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

Example Sentences

The Social Security Administration considers free shelter to be unearned income, although he can avoid this reduction if he pays his fair share of household expenses.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 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

He followed that up against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, surrendering just one unearned run over six frames, keeping his season ERA at 0.00.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Spears says of their Prodigal Son-inspired short, “It’s our way of showing how far God would go, across the divide. Everyone can identify with the idea of forgiveness and unearned grace.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

But if we are to deal with the Cosmos we must first understand it, even if our hopes for some unearned preferential status are, in the process, contravened.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan