assistant

American  

[uh-sis-tuhnt] / əˈsɪs tənt /

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.

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adjective

1. assisting; helpful.

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

   an assistant coach.

assistant British  

/ əˈsɪstənt /

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      assistant manager

2. See shop assistant

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adjective

1. archaic helpful or useful as an aid

Other Word Forms

• nonassistant noun
• unassistant adjective

Etymology

Origin of assistant

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”; see assist

Explanation

An assistant is someone that is there to help. If you work 80 hours a week, you might want to think about hiring a personal assistant to pick up your dry cleaning. The word assistant typically refers to someone who offers assistance. However, in certain professional situations, assistant can mean on a level below, as in "the Assistant District Attorney reports to the District Attorney." Not surprisingly, an assistant provides assistance. However, unlike a slave or an indentured servant, an assistant is paid for his work.

Example Sentences

Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean pulled him aside in front of the Lakers bench for words of encouragement before the second-year pro returned to the bench.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

“Different centers of power are trying to extract better concessions before any formal meeting,” said Saeid Golkar, an expert on Iran’s security forces and an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Tyler Smith made a despairing dive to try to block his shot but the assistant referee raised his flag immediately to signal the goal.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

In fact, at our set, two songs in, I called over our assistant tour manager and I said, “Can you put some fans blowing back out into the audience?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

Behind me, the photographer and his assistant are readying their staged version of what they think my life should look like.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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