administrative assistant

noun

: a person whose job is to support an executive, group, department, or organization especially by handling administrative tasks (such as data entry, correspondence, filing, and scheduling appointments)

Steven Azeez, the administrative assistant who sorts and delivers the office mail, says one day he made four trips to Mr. Maier's desk.

—Eleena De Lisser, Wall Street Journal, 24 Sept. 1999

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!