probation

American  

[proh-bay-shuhn] / proʊˈbeɪ ʃən /

noun

• probations
  plural

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.

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probation British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• probations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of probation

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

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Explanation

A probation is a period of time when a criminal needs to be on their best behavior: they're not in jail (yet or anymore) but they have to do certain things demanded by the court. Being put on criminal probation is like getting a second chance before more serious penalties apply: you might have to pay a fine, do community service, or be monitored to make sure you don’t get into any more trouble. Some criminals are released from jail early and put on probation. People also talk about probation for non-criminal issues: there could be a probation period for joining a club, when they check you out before deciding to let you in.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

probation probations

Lopez was placed on two years’ probation, which he is now accused of violating following the Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

Napo, the probation service union, said the releases have put enormous strain on its members, who are charged with monitoring the offenders in the community.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Lopez, who works in construction, was on probation at the time of the incident, Kremer said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

But the school declined to expel or suspend the graduate student, and instead ordered a written reprimand, a reflection essay, and two months of disciplinary probation just before he graduated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

But within a year, California probation authorities ordered him to return to Los Angeles because he was on probation following his adjudication as a ward of the court for a prior offense.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

A trained barrister, he is a former solicitor general for England and Wales, and has been prisons and probations minister.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2023

Documents may include formal accusations, which detail allegations of gross negligence and other violations; letters of reprimand; and disciplinary orders spelling out stipulated agreements, suspensions, revocations and probations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2021

Their protests earned them 12-month probations from the U.S.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 5, 2020

Penalties listed in the guide include team probations and suspension from post-season play.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 13, 2016

The Pouarh is composed of members who are not admitted among the initiated till they have undergone the most horrible probations.

From Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 Undertaken by Order of the French Government, Comprising an Account of the Shipwreck of the Medusa, the Sufferings of the Crew, and the Various Occurrences on Board the Raft, in the Desert of Zaara, at St. Louis, and at the Camp of Daccard. to Which Are Subjoined Observations Respecting the Agriculture of the Western Coast of Africa, from Cape Blanco to the Mouth of the Gambia. by Alexandre Corréard

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Related Words

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