Why are all general sneakers called tennis shoes?
Jul 21 2023 Theodore Courtland

Why are all general sneakers called tennis shoes?

In my latest blog post, I explored why we often refer to all general sneakers as "tennis shoes". This commonality is rooted in history when the first rubber-soled shoes, designed for playing tennis, entered the market. Over time, this name stuck and became a generic term for all rubber-soled athletic shoes, regardless of the specific sport they were designed for. So, even though we've got basketball shoes, running shoes, and more, we still often call them all "tennis shoes". It's an interesting tidbit of fashion and sports history that continues to influence our language today.

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