assistant

noun

as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsi-stənt How to pronounce assistant (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wise, with The Star since 2021, has most recently served as the assistant managing editor for engagement and experimentation. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025 Based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel of the same name, the original film followed Andy Sachs (Hathaway), a journalism graduate who moves to New York City and lands a very demanding job as junior assistant to Miranda Priestly (Streep), editor-in-chief of a high-fashion magazine. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025 Gregg Popovich is gone, replaced by assistant Mitch Johnson, who ran the club for the final 77 games in 2024-25 after Popovich had a stroke last November. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assistant

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of assistant was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Assistant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assistant. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

assistant

noun
as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsis-tənt How to pronounce assistant (audio)
: a person who assists another : helper
assistant adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on assistant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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