Synonyms

unearned

American

[uhn-urnd] / ʌnˈɜrnd /

adjective

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

unearned promotion.
not yet earned: earn.

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; 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.

She said some of the women were reluctant to come forward, fearing their degrees or affiliations would be seen as unearned.

From The Wall Street Journal

The unearned income is taxed at the same rate as wages.

From Los Angeles Times

Initially, it was planned for Season 4, and we just felt it was unearned by the end of it.

From Los Angeles Times

By September 2025, Booker announced their engagement on Instagram, calling her “one of the greatest unearned blessings of my life.”

From Salon

Healthcare has a reputation as a defensive sector, though that’s mostly unearned: Healthcare stocks haven’t worked as defensive plays in recent years.

From Barron's

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