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

In addition to employees who work on the creating of the products, Lush focuses on other staffers of the business, including production assistants who work on the factory floor. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025

Bamonte became lead singer Robert Smith’s personal assistant and guitar technician before officially joining the Cure lineup in 1990 following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Dec. 2025

The spokesperson also said OpenAI recently updated the Model Spec with stronger guidance on how the assistant should support healthy connections to the real world. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025

Tight ends coach Derham Cato, assistant offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie, assistant director of football athletic performance Malcolm Hardmon and Every True Tiger Brands CEO Brad Larrondo are all leaving Columbia for roles with Moore’s new staff, according to multiple national reports. —Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 26 Dec. 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