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

The Huskers’ 40-year-old running backs coach is the only assistant without terms of a contract revealed for this year. —Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

An assistant discovered Baena's body at a Los Angeles-area home around 10:30 a.m. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025

Marie, a retired nursing assistant, was found dead on her apartment’s bathroom floor on Bradhurst Ave. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2025

So his assistants took matters into their own hands, cornering a 235-pound black bear and tying it to a willow tree. —Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 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

Kids Definition

assistant

noun

as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsis-tənt 

: a person who assists another : helper

assistant adjective