primate
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primate¹
- /ˈpɹaɪmeɪt/
Where it comes from
First attested in 1876. From French primate, from the substantivization of Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“one of the first, chief, excellent, noble”), same as Etymology 2. So named due to the belief that primates are the highest order of mammals or animals.
noun primates
- A mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos. Primates range from lemurs to gorillas.
- An anthropoid; ape including human.
Similar: primate
primate²
- /ˈpɹaɪmeɪt/
- /ˈpɹaɪmət/
Where it comes from
First attested in c. 1275. From Middle English primat(e), from Old French primat (French primat), from Late Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“chief bishop”), substantivisation of prīmās (same as Etymology 1), from prīmus (“prime, first in rank (also as a substantive)”). Compare English primus, of similar derivation and meaning.
noun primates
- In the Catholic Church, a rare title conferred to or claimed by the sees of certain archbishops, or the highest-ranking bishop of a present or historical, usually political circumscription. The Archbishop of Quebec is the primate of Canada.
- In the Orthodox Church, the presiding bishop of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction or region. Usually, the expression primate refers to the first hierarch of an autocephalous or autonomous Orthodox church. Less often, it is used to refer to the ruling bishop of an archdiocese or diocese.
- In the Anglican Church, an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop of an ecclesiastic province.
Similar: primate
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: hierarch, high priest, archpriest, prelate, ape, monkey, dance, supremacy, dominance, primacy, anthropoid, hominid, hominoid, simian, marmoset, gibbon
noun
Similar: primate
noun
Similar: primate
Translations
Every language
noun mammal
| Español | primate |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 영장류 yeongjangnyu |
| 日本語 | 霊長類 reichōrui |
| 中文 | 靈長目動物 /灵长目动物 língzhǎngmù dòngwù, 靈長目 /灵长目 língzhǎngmù |
| हिन्दी | नरवानर narvānar |
| Português | primata |
| Français | primate |
| Deutsch | Primat |
| Italiano | primati, primate |
| Ελληνικά | πρωτεύον protévon |
| Română | primat |
| Русский | прима́т primát |
| Tiếng Việt | động vật có tay, động vật linh trưởng |
| العربية | رَئِيسِيَّات raʔīsiyyāt |
| עברית | פְּרִימָט |
Talk about this word "primate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/primate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. primate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/primate "primate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/primate.Cite this
@misc{primate_2026,
title = {primate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/primate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
