assistant

noun

as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsi-stənt How to pronounce assistant (audio)
Synonyms of assistant
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
assistant adjective

Synonyms of assistant

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Examples of assistant in a Sentence

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead AxiomProver worked like a research assistant, testing a far more expansive space of ideas than would be humanly possible. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026 Stock coached at every level during his 13 years as an assistant. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 Nadia Bickelhaupt, 37, is now suing neurosurgeon Kaveh Asadi-Moghaddam and physician’s assistant Sara Seneker. — Zoey Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 When the assistant becomes the place your people work all day, ripping it out stops being a swap and becomes a company-wide event. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assistant

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of assistant was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing assistant

Rhymes for assistant

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Browse Nearby Words

assistance dog
assistant
assistant professor
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Cite this Entry

“Assistant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assistant. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

assistant

noun
as·​sis·​tant ə-ˈsis-tənt How to pronounce assistant (audio)
: a person who assists another : helper
assistant adjective
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