Mesomorph
/ˈmɛz.ə.mɔːrf/noun
A person with a naturally muscular, well-proportioned body type.
Did you know?Mesomorph was coined in 20th-century scientific psychology from Greek roots, but the same μορφή root also lives in words like metamorphosis, where “form” itself becomes a transformation spell.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
mésos
“middle, in the middle”
Ancient Greek
Greek
morphḗ
“shape, form, appearance”
Late 19th Century
English
meso- + -morph
“a scientific term combining “middle” with “form””
1940s
English
mesomorph
“a human body type with a muscular, medium build”
Modern English
English
mesomorph
“a person classified as having a naturally muscular, well-proportioned physique”
Explore more surprising origins