'phosphate' originates from French, specifically the word 'phosphate', where 'phospho-' referred to 'phosphorus' and '-ate' indicated a salt or ester of an acid.

'phosphate' changed from the French word 'phosphate' and eventually became the modern English word 'phosphate'.

Initially, it meant 'a salt or ester of phosphoric acid', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.