'primate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'prīmātus', where 'prīmus' meant 'first'.

'primate' changed from Old French word 'primat' and Medieval Latin 'prīmātus' and eventually became the modern English word 'primate' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the first or chief (especially a high-ranking bishop)', but over time it evolved to include the biological sense of 'a member of the order Primates' as well as retaining the ecclesiastical meaning.