Primate

Quick meaning: Primate is a noun meaning (zoology) A mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.

Meaning

(zoology) A mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.

More Meanings

1. (informal) An anthropoid; ape including human.
2. (Christianity) In the Anglican Church, an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop of an ecclesiastic province.
3. (Christianity) 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.
4. (Christianity) 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.

Example Sentences

Primates range from lemurs to gorillas.

The Archbishop of Quebec is the primate of Canada.

Word Forms

• primates

Synonyms for primate

Depending on context, synonyms include hierarch, archpriest, prelate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include hierarch, archpriest, prelate, ape, monkey, dance.

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