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

• 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

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

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