Meaning & use
primate
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A mammal belonging to the order that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs, generally characterized by a large brain and grasping hands.
See it in a sentence
Chimpanzees are among the primates most closely related to humans.
The zoo's primate house features gorillas, orangutans, and several species of monkey.
A note on using this word
In a completely different sense, "primate" also refers to a senior bishop in some Christian churches, unrelated to the biological meaning.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A bishop of the highest rank in a province of certain Christian churches.
The Primate of All England is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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