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

Rainn Wilson, who portrayed the iconic assistant (to the) regional manager on the series, posted a photo alongside his former costar while holding an Ashland Avenue playbill in September. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025

This former assistant will now be the lord of the manor, the guy with millions in the bank, the owner of the dope-watch collection. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025

Separately in June Verizon announced an upgrade that included providing customers with access to a Customer Champion and AI assistant, capable of providing updates via app, text or phone call. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Former Brooklyn Nets assistant Will Weaver, who has G League and international head coaching experience, interviewed for the Liberty opening. —Ben Pickman, New York Times, 17 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