primate

noun

pri·​mate
ˈprī-ˌmāt,
or especially for sense 1
-mət How to pronounce primate (audio)
1
often capitalized : a bishop who has precedence in a province, a group of provinces, or a nation
2
archaic : one first in authority or rank : leader
3
: any of an order (Primates) of mammals that are characterized especially by advanced development of binocular vision resulting in stereoscopic depth perception, specialization of the hands and feet for grasping, and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres and that include humans, apes, monkeys, and related forms (such as lemurs and tarsiers)
primateship noun
primatial adjective

Examples of primate in a Sentence

the Primate of England and Wales
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But even after extensive training, the primates didn’t seem to share our mathematical understanding. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025 The co-authors of this latest paper wanted to test their hypothesis that the membranes serve as an additional oscillator to enable such non-human primates to achieve the equivalent of human voice registers. ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025 One of the highlights is a disco dance against a flare-wearing primate who challenges you to a button-matching funk-off. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 Another key feature are monkeys; over 140 statues of primates adorn rooftops and gateposts, and much like the Testa di Moro pottery that came to define Season 2, monkeys are the new talisman for the mischief unfolding beneath their treetop perch. Charlie Campbell, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for primate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English primat, primate, borrowed from Anglo-French primat, primas, borrowed from Late Latin prīmāt-, prīmās "chief, superior, chief bishop," noun derivative of Latin prīmāt-, prīmās "of the highest rank, noble," from prīmus "first, foremost" + -āt-, -ās, adjective-forming suffix, originally from place names; (sense 3) after New Latin Primates (order name introduced by linnaeus), plural of Latin prīmās — more at prime entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primate was in the 13th century

Cite this Entry

“Primate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

primate

noun
pri·​mate ˈprī-ˌmāt How to pronounce primate (audio)
 or especially for 1  -mət
1
: a bishop or archbishop of the highest rank in a district, nation, or church
2
: any of an order of mammals that are characterized by hands and feet that grasp, a relatively large complex brain, and vision in which objects are seen in three dimensions and that includes human beings, apes, monkeys, and related forms (as lemurs and tarsiers)

Medical Definition

primate

noun
pri·​mate ˈprī-ˌmāt How to pronounce primate (audio)
: any mammal of the order Primates

More from Merriam-Webster on primate

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