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

After beginning as an unpaid intern with the Cleveland Cavaliers and landing a position as an assistant with Cleveland’s G League affiliate in Canton, Ohio, Skeeter’s career path also took him through Atlanta just like Lee. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026

Plea deal for former assistant McFadden agreed to a plea deal with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026

The Rebels found themselves in coach limbo throughout the playoffs, as many assistants are following Kiffin to Baton Rouge. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026

Revenue has grown ten times annually for three consecutive years, thanks in large part to the fact that the company’s AI assistant, Claude, has become the model of choice for enterprises that care about reliability as much as capability. —Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 Jan. 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