Pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or many-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures, and comes from the Latin word pinna for "feather". The word is, in many cases, synonymous with the term pectinate , although the latter refers to a comb-like arrangement of parts.

Botanically, the term describes once-divided leaf blades having leaflets that are arranged on both sides of a petiole, a feature displayed by many palms (notable the feather palms ) and most cycads. Most species of ferns have pinnate fronds. Pinnate plants are colloquially called "feather-leaved".

See also: paripinnate , imparipinnate , bipinnate , tripinnate , palmate, costapalmate , simple

The fish Platax pinnatus is known as the pinnate spadefish or pinnate batfish.