probation

[proh-bey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of testing.

2. the testing or trial of a person's conduct, character, qualifications, or the like.

3. the state or period of such testing or trial.

4. Law.

   1. a method of dealing with offenders, especially young persons guilty of minor crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation officer.

   2. the state of having been conditionally released.

5. Education.,  a trial period or condition of students in certain educational institutions who are being permitted to redeem failures, misconduct, etc.

6. the testing or trial of a candidate for membership in a religious body or order, for holy orders, etc.

7. Archaic.,  proof.

probation

/ prəˈbeɪʃən /

noun

1. a system of dealing with offenders by placing them under the supervision of a probation officer

2. 1. under the supervision of a probation officer

   2. undergoing a test period

3. a trial period, as for a teacher, religious novitiate, etc

4. the act of proving or testing

5. a period during which a new employee may have his employment terminated on the grounds of unsuitability

Other Word Forms

• probational adjective
• probationary adjective
• probationship noun
• nonprobation noun
• probationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of probation¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English probacion, from Latin probātiōn- (stem of probātiō ); probate, -ion

Example Sentences

The probation service in London had arranged for safeguarding checks to be conducted, but when March told them the relationship between him and Ms Odysseos had ended amicably no further action was taken.

Read more on BBC

The owners were also placed on two years of probation and must perform 200 hours of community service.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Reid's warning triggered major reforms that created the Ministry of Justice to run prisons and probation.

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The D.C Superior Court judge in the case let the duo off with probation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, who smuggled classified documents out of the National Archives and mutilated some of them, also received two years of probation and a fine.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• trial