I was reading an article about Usain Bolt on CNN's website and there is this sentence.

With his height and weight, the world record holder would not look out of place on the basketball court.

Why is the definite article used in "the basketball court"? It could be any court and also the court was not mentioned before in the text.

marked as duplicate by J.R. Aug 13 '17 at 9:54


  • The definite article is often used when the noun represents the entire class to which it belongs. See this answer. – P. E. Dant Aug 13 '17 at 7:56
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    Looks like DAMS has struck again (see this answer as well). – J.R. Aug 13 '17 at 9:47
  • @P.E.Dant So, the court represents the entire class? – trenccan Aug 13 '17 at 20:29
  • @J.R. I still prefer the non-Bowdlerized Definite Article Meaning Nonstability Incomprehension Trauma. – P. E. Dant Aug 13 '17 at 20:32
  • Yes, "the basketball court" refers to basketball courts in general, or as it might also be expressed, to "basketball courts" as an environment. – P. E. Dant Aug 13 '17 at 20:34