primate
4 synonyms for primate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A mammal belonging to the group that includes apes, monkeys, humans, and lemurs.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use primate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
non-human primates
a primate species
Primate of All England
Etymology
From French primate, from Latin prīmās ("one of the first rank, chief"); the biological sense reflects the old idea that primates were the "highest" order of mammals.
Full origin of primate →Frequently asked questions
What does “primate” mean?
The word “primate” means a mammal belonging to the group that includes apes, monkeys, humans, and lemurs. In plain terms, either an animal from the group including monkeys, apes, and humans, or (in some churches) a top-ranking archbishop.
How do you pronounce “primate”?
“Primate” is pronounced PREYE-mayt (/ˈpɹaɪmeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “primate” in a sentence?
Here is “primate” used in a sentence: “Chimpanzees are among our closest living primate relatives.”
What part of speech is “primate”?
“Primate” is a noun.
Where does the word “primate” come from?
The word “primate” comes from Latin. From French primate, from Latin prīmās ("one of the first rank, chief"); the biological sense reflects the old idea that primates were the "highest" order of mammals.
Is “primate” a common word?
“Primate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “primate” have?
“Primate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mammal belonging to the group that includes apes, monkeys, humans, and lemurs.
