While any generic footwear is labelled a shoe, sneakers are made from either synthetic materials or leather and feature a rubber sole. While they’re mostly reserved for athletic shoes, not all sneakers are made for exercise. Sneakers likely originated in the sports arena—particularly as tennis shoes—and got their name due to their quiet attributes on the court. You could literally sneak up on someone while wearing them.
Since then, sneakers have evolved into a wider classification of footwear, including casual wear and the go-to shoe for physical activity. Every sneaker is a shoe, but not every shoe is a sneaker.