tennis

American  

[ten-is] / ˈtɛn ɪs /

noun

1. a game played on a rectangular court by two players or two pairs of players equipped with rackets, in which a ball is driven back and forth over a low net that divides the court in half.

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tennis British  

/ ˈtɛnɪs /

noun

1. 1. a racket game played between two players or pairs of players who hit a ball to and fro over a net on a rectangular court of grass, asphalt, clay, etc See also lawn tennis real tennis court tennis table tennis

   2. ( as modifier )

      tennis court

      tennis racket

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Etymology

Origin of tennis

1350–1400; Middle English tenetz, ten ( e ) ys < Anglo-French: take!, imperative plural of tenir to hold, take, receive, apparently used as a server's call

Explanation

Tennis anyone? Tennis is a sport that's played with a small, felt-covered rubber ball and rackets. The basic goal in tennis is hitting the ball across a net. There are two types of tennis: singles, when two individuals face off, and doubles, which involves teams of two players. If you can hit a tennis ball with a racket, you can play tennis. Historians believe that tennis grew out of a 12th century French game called la paulme, "the palm," in which players hit a ball with their hands. The word tennis comes from the Anglo-French tenetz, "Hold! Take! Receive!" which players called out before serving.

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, Mission College won the state women’s tennis championship armed with local players from Kennedy, Granada Hills, Sylmar and Birmingham high schools, among others.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

“The home also includes a 500-square-foot laundry room. Outdoors, the estate offers an international competition-standard tennis court and a regulation-size basketball court.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

The condition was that he must enrol in either tennis, badminton or fencing as a means of channelling focus.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Pricing out the hardcore fan creates a quieter room, whether it’s the Super Bowl, a Final Four or a tennis title.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Lumpy looking gangly months later, tennis ball in his mouth.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence