əˈsɪstənt ˈbɛnəˌfæktɚ ˈbɛnəˌfaktə ˈhɛlpɚ səˈpɔː.tə səˈpɔɹ.tɚ a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help) a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose my invaluable assistant they hired additional help to finish the work