What does tennis mean?
Tennis is a racquet sport played with a ball over a net on a court divided into two sides. Players use rackets to return the ball, aiming to place it within the opponent's court so that the other player or team cannot return it. The term is used in British and American English and commonly appears with words such as court, ball, match, and player. In general usage, tennis refers to the modern sport, while “real tennis” is reserved for an older court game with different equipment and rules. Tennis is also a familiar cultural and sporting term associated with international competition, recreational play, and major tournaments. Its history is especially memorable because the word does not describe the equipment or the action of hitting the ball. Instead, it comes through French from a call meaning “take heed,” reflecting the game's older European origins before the modern lawn game developed.
nounTennis is a racquet sport in which two players or teams strike a ball over a net, using rackets to direct it into the opponent's court. It is also the name of the equipment and the court used in the game.
- The racquet sport played with a ball, rackets, and a net over a divided court.
"She plays tennis every weekend with a friend from her neighborhood."
"They play tennis every Saturday morning at the local club."
"The rain delayed the tennis match and forced the organizers to change the schedule."
Usually no plural is needed when referring to the sport. The plural is uncommon and is used for separate games or instances.
"The club organized several tennises for members during the summer."
Tennis preserves a court call from medieval French: its name ultimately comes from tenez, meaning “take heed.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tennis come from?
The word entered Middle English from French tenez, an imperative form of tenir meaning “to hold” or “take heed,” ultimately derived from Latin tenere. It originally referred to the European game now called real tennis. The modern lawn game emerged in the nineteenth century, while the older name continued to be used for racquet games generally.
How tennis is actually used
The word is neutral in register and is used in British and American English. It is usually treated as a general name for the modern sport; in formal historical contexts, “real tennis” refers to the older game from which modern lawn tennis developed.
Easily confused with tennis
Tines are the pointed prongs of a fork, whereas tennis is a racquet sport.