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

Leavitt began working for the first Trump White House shortly after graduating in 2019, first as presidential writer and later as assistant press secretary, according to the website for her 2022 run for Congress.

From BBC

"For patients, this means that there are options when it comes to receiving care," says Marcantoni, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and the paper's lead author.

From Science Daily

F. Gold, an assistant professor of physical geography at Utrecht University who conducted the research as a postdoctoral associate at Cornell.

From Science Daily

“Some people just have that incredible ability to make their bodies learn how to do athletic things,” said Clark, now an assistant at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla.

From Los Angeles Times

The longtime coach was working as an offensive assistant at Texas Christian after being fired as Houston’s coach.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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