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

Gartner confirmed this anecdotal observation in an August paper, indicating that 75% of developers anticipate using code assistants by 2028 (and that 63% are already using them today). —Ruth Foxe Blader, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

The schedule hit a snag when one patient bailed at the last minute, leading Wilson’s camera assistant to ask a friend down the street to come in for a reading. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024

Women can be the flirty voice of your AI assistant, but not the metaphorical voice for the AI industry. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2024

Garten had just begun telling me a long story about a spur-of-the-moment trip to Paris when Brown, her assistant, interrupted us with news that the tour group had arrived at her gate. —Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024

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