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

OpenAI’s advances have a head start here because, like many other recent AI math breakthroughs, the proofs came with a formal write-up in a proof assistant language called Lean. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

The remainder of Spoelstra’s coaching staff is expected to return, and Spoelstra added one coach to his staff — former Bucks assistant Vin Baker, who has a close relationship with Antetokounmpo. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

According to Launchmetrics, consumers are increasingly turning to AI assistants rather than search engines for brand search and discovery. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

After last week's high-profile blunder saw Erling Haaland wrongly awarded the winning goal against Manchester United, VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down for this round of fixtures. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 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