assistant

[uh-sis-tuhnt]

noun

1. a person who assists or gives aid and support; helper.

2. a person who is subordinate to another in rank, function, etc.; one holding a secondary rank in an office or post.

   He was assistant to the office manager.

   Synonyms: adjutant, aide

3. something that aids and supplements another.

4. a faculty member of a college or university who ranks below an instructor and whose responsibilities usually include grading papers, supervising laboratories, and assisting in teaching.

adjective

1. assisting; helpful.

2. serving in an immediately subordinate position; of secondary rank.

   an assistant coach.

assistant

/ əˈsɪstənt /

noun

1. 1. a person who assists, esp in a subordinate position

   2. ( as modifier )

      assistant manager

2. See shop assistant

adjective

1. archaic,  helpful or useful as an aid

Other Word Forms

• nonassistant noun
• unassistant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assistant¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English assistent, from Latin assistent-, stem of assistēns “standing by,” present participle of assistere “to stand by, help”; assist

Example Sentences

Administrators rely too heavily on student reviews when deciding whether to retain adjuncts, assistant professors and even associates.

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Laura Landro, a former Wall Street Journal assistant managing editor, is the author of “Survivor: Taking Control of Your Fight Against Cancer.”

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Larry Barlow, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy at Capella University, recounts a personal episode that brought him and his wife up short.

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Choi is now an assistant professor at the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

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Administrative assistants moved from answering phones and scheduling appointments to coordinating projects and managing vendors.

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Related Words

• aide 
• apprentice 
• associate 
• attendant 
• backup 
• colleague 
• companion 
• deputy 
• friend 
• partner 
• representative 
• secretary