aide
gb/ˈeɪd/ us/ˈeɪd/
B2
English
~ 6500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
assistant to an important person
A person who helps an important person do their work, especially in government or business.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s aide; an aide to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse “aid” and “aide.” “Aid” is usually a noun meaning “help” or a verb meaning “to help” (e.g., “They sent aid,” “They aid the poor”), while “aide” is a noun meaning “a person who helps another person in their work” (e.g., “a presidential aide”). Learners may also overuse “assistant,” not realizing that “aide” is more common in news and political contexts.
Synonyms
assistant (More general and more common; does not especially suggest politics or high-level office work.)
Antonyms
superior (Refers to the person in the higher position who is being assisted, rather than the assistant.)
Collocations
top aide
|senior aide
|close aide
|presidential aide
|campaign aide
|White House aide
Themes
work
|politics
|business
|administration
Examples
- The senator’s top aide handled most of the press calls.
- She worked as an aide to the city mayor for five years.
- According to a senior aide, the president will announce the plan tomorrow.
- His longtime aide organized the meeting schedule and briefings.
- Reporters gathered around the minister’s aides after the conference.
Learner examples
- He is an aide to a famous lawyer.
- The aide met with reporters after the speech.
- Her aide answered all of the phone calls.
- The mayor’s aide helped write the new plan.
- She wants to become an aide in the government.
Noun
B2
entity
2
basic healthcare or care worker
A person who helps sick, old, or disabled people with simple care in a hospital, care home, or house.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] [type] aide; [aide] in [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may think an “aide” in this sense is a fully qualified nurse or doctor. In many systems, an aide has less training and mainly does basic tasks like washing, dressing, or feeding patients. Another confusion is with “helper,” which is very general; “aide” is more of a job title in health or education.
Synonyms
care worker (Broader and more general; not limited to medical contexts and not always used inside hospitals or clinics.)
Antonyms
patient (The person receiving care, as opposed to the aide who provides care.)
Collocations
nursing aide
|home health aide
|teacher’s aide
|health-care aide
|hospital aide
|care aide
Themes
healthcare
|work
|daily life
|social care
|health
|daily_life
Examples
- She works as a home health aide for elderly clients who live alone.
- The nursing aide helped the patient get out of bed and walk down the hall.
- Due to staff shortages, the hospital hired more aides for the night shift.
- As a teacher’s aide, he supports children with special needs in the classroom.
- Many aides receive on-the-job training rather than formal medical education.
Learner examples
- My sister is a home health aide.
- The aide helped the old man take a bath.
- A nursing aide brought food to the patients.
- The school hired an aide to help the teacher.
- The aide works in a small care home.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
military personal assistant officer
A military officer who works as the personal helper of a very high officer or leader.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] aide to [rank/title]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that “aide” here is a formal title in military and state settings, and they might translate it simply as “soldier.” It specifically means a personal assistant who is also an officer, not just any member of the armed forces.
Synonyms
aide-de-camp (More specific and formal; the established military term for an officer serving as a senior officer’s personal assistant.)
Antonyms
commander (The senior officer in charge whom the aide serves, rather than the assisting officer.)
Collocations
military aide
|aide-de-camp
|naval aide
|air force aide
|senior military aide
|personal aide
Themes
military
|government
|protocol
|politics
|work
Examples
- The general’s aide escorted the visitors into the briefing room.
- She served as a military aide to the president during his first term.
- A uniformed aide stood behind the minister throughout the ceremony.
- The royal aide quietly handed the speech to the king.
- An aide-de-camp traditionally carries out ceremonial and administrative duties for a senior commander.
Learner examples
- The president’s military aide opened the car door.
- An aide walked beside the general on the stage.
- He worked as an aide to a high army officer.
- A royal aide gave the message to the queen.
- The aide followed the leader during the visit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aide
IPA
GB/ˈeɪd/
US/ˈeɪd/
Syllables & stress
aide (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (aide)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aide
- Plural: aides
Word family
Expressions
aide-de-camp
1/ˈeɪd də kˈæmp/
fixed phrase
formal
military officer assistant
A military officer who is the personal helper of a high military officer or important leader.
Examples
- He was appointed aide-de-camp to the commander of the army.
- An aide-de-camp stood behind the president during the ceremony.
- The general’s aide-de-camp arranged the travel plans for the visit.
close aide
1/klˈoʊs ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
trusted personal assistant
An aide who is very trusted and works closely with an important person.
Examples
- A close aide to the president denied the allegations.
- One of her closest aides later described the discussions in detail.
- The minister’s close aides tried to control the flow of information.
home health aide
1/hˈoʊm hˈɛlθ ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
care worker in client’s home
A person who goes to people’s homes to help them with basic health and personal care.
Examples
- After his surgery, he received daily visits from a home health aide.
- The agency will send a home health aide to assist your mother with bathing and meals.
- Many home health aides work with elderly clients who want to stay in their own homes.
nursing aide
1/nˈɚsɪŋ ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
assistant who helps nurses
A person who helps nurses by doing simple care work for patients, like washing them or bringing food.
Examples
- The hospital is looking for experienced nursing aides for the night shift.
- As a nursing aide, he spends most of his time helping patients with daily activities.
- The nursing aide checked on each patient every hour.
senior aide
1/sˈinjɚ ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
high-ranking personal assistant
An important or high-level aide who has a lot of responsibility or experience.
Examples
- A senior aide to the prime minister briefed reporters on the new policy.
- According to a senior aide, the decision was made weeks ago.
- She was promoted to senior aide after ten years in the office.
teacher's aide
1/tˈit͡ʃɚz ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
assistant who helps a teacher
A person who helps a teacher in a classroom, often with simple tasks or with children who need extra help.
Examples
- She works as a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten class.
- The teacher’s aide helped the students with their reading.
- The school hired another teacher’s aide to support children with disabilities.
top aide
1/tˈɑp ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
most important assistant
The most important or most trusted aide who works for a powerful person.
Examples
- The governor’s top aide resigned amid the scandal.
- Her top aide is widely seen as the power behind the scenes.
- Several of his top aides were present at the secret meeting.