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 Words From

• nonas·sistant noun
• unas·sistant 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

She started a monthlong substitute-teaching assignment on Nov. 4 and said she was outraged to receive a call from an assistant superintendent on Wednesday dismissing her.

From Los Angeles Times

With his Buddy Holly glasses, scruffy boho beard, floppy hair and turtleneck sweater, Adams — who is called the Big Lad — is lazily charismatic, with the precociously paternal air of a cool, or seemingly cool, assistant professor — he calls Dolours, who in real life was only two years younger, “child.”

From Los Angeles Times

The game against the Lakers on Friday will be the eighth in which assistant coach Mitch Johnson will be filling in while Popovich recovers.

From Los Angeles Times

Popovich was an assistant coach when a 19-year-old James was a player on the U.S. men’s basketball team that won bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

From Los Angeles Times

She was later asked by him to go to Monaco to work as a personal assistant for his younger brother, Salah, but on her arrival, she found there was very little work to do.

From BBC

Related Words

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