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

see pda entry 1

assistant adjective

Synonyms

• adjunct
• adjutant
• aid
• aide
• apprentice
• coadjutor
• deputy
• helper
• helpmate
• helpmeet
• lieutenant
• mate
• 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

Some examples of how entry-level roles are shifting: Jobs that used to be widely available include data entry clerks, call center representatives, and administrative assistants. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Estrada went on to say that, per the indictment, Plasencia even taught Perry’s live-in assistant how to inject the drug, and that is who ultimately gave Perry the dose that killed him. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Lee Thomas, who until last June led the United Administrators of Oakland Schools — which represents site administrators, assistant principals and coaches, among other officials — accused the board of seeking to violate the union’s collective bargaining agreement. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

Her assistant allegedly later made a reservation for her at the same hotel on the same dates for one person. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025

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