Tantalate is an tantalum-containing anion or a salt of such an anion. A commercially important example is heptafluorotantalate (TaF7²⁻) and its potassium salt (K₂TaF₇).

Many oxides of tantalum are called tantalates. They are viewed as derivatives of "tantalic acid", hypothetic compounds with the formulas Ta₂O₅·nH₂O or HTaO₃). Examples of such tantalates are lithium tantalate (LiTaO3), lutetium tantalate (LuTaO₄), neodymium tantalate (NdTaO₄) and lead scandium tantalate (PST or Pb(Sc_xTa_1-x)O₃. Polyoxometallates containing tantalum provide examples of discrete tantalum oxides that exist in solution.