unearned

/'ʌn'ə:nd/
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unearned

A child receives an unearned trophy for participation.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Not gained through work, effort, or merit: Refers to something received without having been earned by one's own labor or deserving actions. 2. (In sports, especially baseball): Refers to a run scored as a result of errors by the opposing team, not by hits or skillful play by the batting team. 3. (In economics/finance): Refers to income received from investments, property, or inheritance, as opposed to wages or salary from employment.

Usage and Examples
  • General Meaning (Not gained by merit or work):
    • He felt guilty about his unearned privilege.
    • The criticism was harsh and largely unearned.
  • In Sports (Baseball):
    • The pitcher was charged with an unearned run after the shortstop's error.
  • In Economics/Finance:
    • Her wealth comes from unearned income like stock dividends and rental properties.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "Unearned increment": An economic term for an increase in the value of land or property due to external factors (like population growth or new infrastructure), not due to the owner's effort or investment.
    • The city's new subway line led to an unearned increment for nearby landowners.
  • The concept often carries a moral or ethical dimension, contrasting with the value placed on "earning" something through hard work.
Variants and Related Words
  • Unearned income (n): Money received from sources other than employment, such as interest, dividends, or rent.
  • Unearned run (n): A baseball statistic for a run that scores due to defensive errors.
  • Earned (adj): The direct antonym, meaning gained through work or merit.
Synonyms
  • Undeserved: Not warranted, merited, or earned (often used for negative things like criticism).
  • Unmerited: Similar to undeserved.
  • Windfall: A sudden, unexpected gain (often financial).
Antonyms
  • Earned
  • Deserved
  • Merited
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • Unearned advantage/privilege: Benefits one receives through circumstance (like birth or social position) rather than personal achievement.
    • The program aims to address systemic inequalities that create unearned advantage.
unearned

A child receives an unearned trophy for participation.

Adjective
  1. not gained by merit or labor or service
    • accepted the unearned rewards that came his ways as well as the unearned criticism
    • unearned income
    • an unearned run

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