somatotype

noun

1. A particular type of physique; originally, one of the types defined by William Herbert Sheldon: ectomorphic, endomorphic, mesomorphic.

   “The relevant characteristics here are the upright posture, the big round head, the cuddly size and the soft dumpy shape. I suppose the much-loved Bill Oddie is the same somatotype.”

   “The observed occurrence of people changing from one somatotype to another has caused many researchers and health practitioners to regard the practice of categorizing people into different somatotypes as unscientific and erroneous.”

   “An ectomorph is a human somatotype (body type) that is typically tall and lean with smaller muscles, narrow shoulders, and narrow hips. […] There are two other somatotypes: endomorphs and mesomorphs.”

verb

1. (transitive)To classify (a person) by physical build.

   “Apart from Masicampo et al. and Cullinane et al., no previous research has analyzed suspects’ perceived body size and police practices, though past theories of biology and crime, such as Sheldon's somatotyping of criminal behavior as well as several recent studies assess the relationship between individuals’ body type, height, and weight and likelihood of committing crime and being arrested.”