Assistant

/əˈsɪstənt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who helps or aids another, especially in their work or duties.

She works as a research assistant in the biology department.

A device or program that assists in performing tasks.

The software includes an assistant feature to guide users through the setup process.

A person holding a subordinate position, usually in a professional context.

He was promoted from assistant manager to manager after two years.

verb

To aid or help in accomplishing a task.

She was invited to assist in organizing the event.

From Latin 'assistentem', meaning 'to stand by' or 'to assist'.

personal assistant

An individual who provides personal support and management to someone.

teaching assistant

A person who assists a teacher, usually in educational settings.

administrative assistant

Someone who performs office tasks and provides support to staff.

aide

A person who helps or supports another.

support

To give assistance to.

An informal term for someone who helps; can imply a casual or temporary role.

He's just my work buddy, not really my assistant.

In tech contexts, refers to smart assistants like Siri or Alexa.

I asked my assistant to play some music.