Definition of "primate" in English

noun

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

   • Primates range from lemurs to gorillas.

2. (informal) A simian anthropoid; an ape (including human) or monkey.

noun

1. (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.

   • The Archbishop of Quebec is the primate of Canada.

2. (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.

3. (Christianity) In the Anglican Church, an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop of an ecclesiastic province.