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

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, a Patriots assistant from 2018-20, showed film of those teams during team meetings, Jacas said. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

Nate Tibbetts played for the men’s basketball team at the University of South Dakota before beginning his coaching career as an assistant for the University of Sioux Falls men’s basketball team. —Annie Costabile, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Nearly all the instructions were relayed electronically from the director’s cave and translated by a bilingual assistant director. —Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is a former Nuggets assistant under Malone. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 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