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
- adjunct
- adjutant
- aid
- aide
- apprentice
- coadjutor
- deputy
- helper
- helpmate
- helpmeet
- lieutenant
- mate
- sidekick
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Joshua St Clair is an editorial assistant at Men's Health Magazine. 
Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 12 Sep. 2022 Grant was an assistant at Marshall under then-head coach Billy Donovan from 1994-96. Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Carly was an assistant for Whalen at Minnesota before taking the Fairfield job earlier this year. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2022 Ryook was an administrative assistant in the human resources department of the bond-trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Linda Gandee, cleveland, 5 Sep. 2022 Blazers coach Chauncey Billups hired Curry, who had been an assistant for the men’s team at Maine, to lead player development efforts that resulted in the improved play of young players such as Trendon Watford and Greg Brown III. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 Skip Clayton, Lake Brantley’s first-year head coach who was an assistant under his dad George Clayton when Bernhardt was at Brantley, has followed Bernhardt’s career. Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Zampese was an assistant at Cal Poly in 1966 before spending a decade at San Diego State. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 The 35-year-old was an assistant under Schantz in 2021 before taking the top job with Oakland Roots this season. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 23 Aug. 2022 See More
Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 12 Sep. 2022 Grant was an assistant at Marshall under then-head coach Billy Donovan from 1994-96. Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Carly was an assistant for Whalen at Minnesota before taking the Fairfield job earlier this year. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2022 Ryook was an administrative assistant in the human resources department of the bond-trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Linda Gandee, cleveland, 5 Sep. 2022 Blazers coach Chauncey Billups hired Curry, who had been an assistant for the men’s team at Maine, to lead player development efforts that resulted in the improved play of young players such as Trendon Watford and Greg Brown III. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 Skip Clayton, Lake Brantley’s first-year head coach who was an assistant under his dad George Clayton when Bernhardt was at Brantley, has followed Bernhardt’s career. Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Zampese was an assistant at Cal Poly in 1966 before spending a decade at San Diego State. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 The 35-year-old was an assistant under Schantz in 2021 before taking the top job with Oakland Roots this season. Theo Mackie, The Arizona Republic, 23 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
assistant 1 of 2
adjective
as·sis·tant ə-ˈsi-stənt
: acting as a helper to another
an assistant manager
assistant
2 of 2noun
: a person who assists another
assistant 1 of 2
noun
as in aide
a person who helps a more skilled person the chief assistant to the director Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- aide
- deputy
- apprentice
- adjutant
- aid
- sidekick
- lieutenant
- adjunct
- helper
- servant
- coadjutor
- maid
- helpmate
- helpmeet
- employee
- mate
- attendant
- worker
- auxiliary
- subordinate
- underling
- help
- handmaiden
- maidservant
- legman
- scullion
- laborer
- employe
- hireling
- right hand
- swamper
- handmaid
- hand
- aide-de-camp
- girl Friday
- gal Friday
- man Friday
assistant
2 of 2adjective
as in assisting
Synonyms & Similar Words
- assisting
- supportive
- subordinate
- adjuvant
- another
- complementary
- additional
- tributary
- subsidiary
- auxiliary
- added
- further
- helping
- contributory
- backup
- accessory
- superfluous
- secondary
- surplus
- dispensable
- excess
- makeshift
- peripheral
- subservient
- accessorial
- nonessential
- unessential
- substitute
- appurtenant
- supplemental
- supplementary
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- chief
- principal
- main
- primary
- basic
- fundamental
- necessary
- prime
- essential
- required
- integral
- needed
- indispensable
- imperative
- vital
- needful
- requisite
- all-important