Unearned Increment
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The increase in the value of land which results from the building of roads or railways, from the growth of popu- lation, or from the working of mines beneath the surface.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Unearned Increment” mean?
The increase in the value of land which results from the building of roads or railways, from the growth of popu- lation, or from the working of mines beneath the surface.
Is “Unearned Increment” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.