Word forms: plural primatespronunciation note: The pronunciation (praɪmət) is also used for meaning [sense 2].
1. countable noun
A primate is a member of the group of mammals which includes humans, monkeys, and apes.
The woolly spider monkey is the largest primate in the Americas.
2. countable noun
The Primateof a particular country or region is the most important priest in that country or region.
...the Roman Catholic Primate of All Ireland.
primate in British English1
(ˈpraɪmeɪt)
noun
1.
any placental mammal of the order Primates, typically having flexible hands and feet with opposable first digits, good eyesight, and, in the higher apes, a highly developed brain: includes lemurs, lorises, monkeys, apes, and humans
adjective
2.
of, relating to, or belonging to the order Primates
Word origin
C18: from New Latin primates, plural of prīmās principal, from prīmus first
primate in British English2
(ˈpraɪmeɪt)
noun
1. another name for archbishop
2. Primate of all England
3. Primate of England
Derived forms
primatial (praɪˈmeɪʃəl)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin prīmās principal, from prīmus first
primate in American English
(ˈpraɪˌmeɪt; ˈpraɪmɪt; for 2, usually, ˈpraɪmɪt)
noun
1. Rare
a person with primacy
2.
an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop in a province, etc.
3.
any of an order (Primates) of mammals characterized esp. by flexible hands and feet,each with five digits, including humans, great apes, monkeys, and lemurs
Derived forms
primateship (ˈprimateˌship)
noun
primatial (priˈmatial) (ˈpraɪˈmeɪʃəl)
adjective
Word origin
ME primat < OFr < LL primas (gen. primatis), of the first, chief < L primus, first: see prime
Examples of 'primate' in a sentence
primate
Worse, it revealed that her natural hairline went so low down the nape of her neck as to qualify her for primate status.
Cathy Kelly JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
Mae was a good biologist, but she was a primate biologist.
Michael Crichton PREY (2002)
In other languages
primate
British English: primate NOUN
A primate is a member of the group of mammals which includes humans, monkeys, and apes.