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

Mica was the worship leader, graphics designer, youth leader, women’s ministry leader, and Pastor’s assistant. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

He was later promoted to personal assistant, and eventually became the chief executive of The Beatles’ company, Apple Corps. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025

Large language models gradually influence the way people form opinions by generating the information that chatbots and virtual assistants present to people over time. —Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

Neves Valente was a teaching assistant at Instituto Superior Técnico until his contract ended in 2000, the same year Loureiro graduated with his physics degree. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 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