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

Luckily, Charlie admitted leaking that accusation to Georgia, which means Emira doesn’t have to fire or muzzle her assistant for blabbing. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 July 2026

Coach James Ramsey announced Wednesday that pitching coach Matt Taylor was promoted to associate head coach, with assistant Josh Schulman named the team’s new recruiting coordinator. — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 23 July 2026

That need has helped to push the Nats to join the Miami Marlins, who started to employ the tactic in the majors late last season, and the Rockies, who hired the Marlins’ assistant pitching coach this winter. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 22 July 2026

For example, the assistant on a phone may be owned by Apple, Google or OpenAI. — Nirmal Mukhi, Forbes.com, 22 July 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