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

• 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

A five-minute delay followed before the decision was overturned after a video assistant referee review.

From BBC

Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.

From Los Angeles Times

Thomas is now an assistant coach at Edison.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the hardships, Ridge became a certified nursing assistant and found a job as a part-time morgue attendant at Highland Hospital in Oakland, one of the five hospitals run by Alameda Health System.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple of TV roles followed but then the work largely dried up, and he settled for working behind the scenes as a stunt co-ordinator and assistant director.

From BBC

Related Words

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