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

Battle was first hired by the city in 2019 as a recreation assistant. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Following a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention, however, the goal was disallowed after Wilfried Gnonto was judged to have handled the ball in the buildup. —Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026

Stephens and Heath were previously assistants for the Spartans. —CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026

Brian Nichols, former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere in the Biden administration, applauded the appointment. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 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