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.
The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 Moore purchased all 27 of the shirts the store had and told Tee Shirt University assistant manager Scot Marshall to give them away to fans for free. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Granato and Vogelhuber join a staff of assistants that already includes Jared Boll, a holdover from previous coach Dean Evason’s staff. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Penguins pre-free agency re-signings The biggest pending unrestricted free agent for the Penguins going into this offseason was center and assistant captain Evgeni Malkin. — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on assistant

Nglish: Translation of assistant for Spanish Speakers

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