“Tennis shoe”: one word, two different meanings 

The word "tennis shoe" can mean two very different things to two not so different people. What I mean by this is that if you speak to someone who has never seen tennis played or has never played the game themselves, the word tennis shoe means a sneaker that is not a dress shoe.
For example, any kind of walking, running or any outdoor shoe can be referred to as a tennis shoe. My mother is Swedish and I know that in Sweden they refer to any outdoor shoe as your "tennis".
Now, speak to someone who either plays or watches tennis, and the words tennis shoe is referred to as a specific shoe, used for a specific purpose. This shoe is used for one thing and one thing only...to play tennis. It is not a shoe to be worn around the house or to go for a run in.

The difference between a tennis shoe and any other "tennis shoe" is that it has a harder, more durable outer sole to allow for additional stability as you run around the court and it has specific technologies to help prevent injuries usually incurred during the game of … tennis.

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