unearned

Unearned is an adjective used to describe something that is not obtained through effort, merit, or direct work. It is often used in contrast with earned, implying that the benefit or outcome was not the result of the subject's actions. The term can apply to income, status, or advantages, and is common in discussions of fairness and merit.

In economics and taxation, unearned income refers to money received from passive sources such as interest, dividends, rent, royalties, or capital gains, rather than wages or salaries from employment. Unearned income can be taxed differently from earned income in some jurisdictions. Critics argue that reliance on unearned income can widen inequality because assets can accumulate more quickly than work-based earnings.

Historically, the concept of the unearned increment describes increases in land value that occur through societal development or public investment rather than the owner's effort. The term, associated with Henry George, underpins arguments for land value taxation as a means to capture unearned gains for public use.

The term is also used in sociological and philosophical discourse to discuss unearned privilege or advantages—benefits conferred by race, class, or other factors not earned by the individual. In moral contexts, phrases like unearned suffering have been discussed to critique perceived unfairness in suffering or misfortune.