assistant

UK: /əˈsɪstənt/ US: /əˈsɪstənt/ ,(ə sis′tənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•sis•tant /əˈsɪstənt/   n. [countable]

1. a person who assists;
   helper:
   was an assistant to the manager.

adj. [before a noun]

2. serving in a subordinate position:
   an assistant secretary.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•sis•tant  (ə sis′tənt), n. 

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.
3. something that aids and supplements another.
4. Education 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.

adj. 

5. assisting;
   helpful.
6. serving in an immediately subordinate position;
   of secondary rank:
   an assistant coach.

• Latin assistent- (stem of assistēns, present participle of assistere to assist); see -ent, -ant
• late Middle English assistent 1400–50

Synonyms

• 2. aide, adjutant.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

assistant / əˈsɪstənt/ noun

1. a person who assists, esp in a subordinate position
2. (as modifier): assistant manager
3. See shop assistant