assistant

noun

as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsi-stənt 

1

: a person who assists someone : helper

also : a person holding an assistantship

2

: a device or product that provides assistance

software assistants

personal digital assistant

assistant adjective

Synonyms of assistant

• aide
• apprentice
• deputy
• aid
• adjutant
• sidekick

Examples of assistant in a Sentence

an assistant to the college president

an assistant to the store manager

a wealthy executive who has a personal assistant

Recent Examples on the Web

Her two assistants, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, are also American women. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026

Alzubi has worked in the district in various capacities, including chemistry teacher and assistant principal, since 2013. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2026

Tori Penso was the lead referee, and Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt were the assistant refs. —Alex Connor, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Adobe has just announced that Creative Agent, the AI-powered assistant that sits in multiple creative applications is being expanded across Firefly, Photoshop and more. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English assistent, borrowed from Anglo-French assistant, assistent, noun derivative of assistant, assistent, adjective, "assisting, helpful," from present participle of assister "to help, aid" — more at assist entry 1

Note: In the case of both this word and assistance Modern English has chosen the French form with -a- in the suffix rather than Latin -e-.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assistant

• assistant professor
• personal digital assistant
• physician assistant
• physician's assistant
• sales assistant
• teaching assistant

Rhymes for assistant

• consistent
• existent
• insistent
• persistent
• resistant
• subsistent
• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent
• distant

Kids Definition

assistant

noun

as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsis-tənt 

: a person who assists another : helper

assistant adjective