unearned
pronunciation
How to pronounce unearned in British English:
UK [ˌʌnˈɜ:nd]
How to pronounce unearned in American English:
US [ˌʌnˈɜrnd]
-
- Adjective:
- not gained by merit or labor or service
Word Origin
- unearned (adj.)
- c. 1200, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of earn (v.). Unearned income is recorded from 1889.
Example
- 1. But land taxes merely reduce the unearned rewards to owners .
- 2. In retrospect it is clear the country was living in a bubble of hubris and unearned kudos .
- 3. Ever since the 19th century , democratic reformers have sought to free economies from waste , corruption and " unearned income . "
- 4. Other governments would do well to emulate and improve upon australia 's efforts to shift the tax burden from hard-earned wages and profits to unearned rents and uncompensated harms .
- 5. The second generation of the rich often incur the ire of the wider society , especially when they act as if they 're entitled to , rather than lucky to have , their unearned riches .