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probation officer

American

noun

an officer who investigates and reports on the conduct of offenders who are free on probation.

probation officer British

noun

an officer of a court who supervises offenders placed on probation and assists and befriends them

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of probation officer

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One probation officer told the BBC that missed appointments could lead offenders to break the law again because "crucial information isn't gathered and shared".

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

One probation officer described the workload as "non-stop", and increasing until "you simply can't cope", adding: "It's just overwhelming."

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

But one probation officer said the new zones would put more pressure on the service when it was already struggling to monitor the number of offenders in the community.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

It wasn’t until last October that authorities arrested Austin, an Oregon probation officer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

My probation officer thinks he’s slick; he swears he’s an expert on gangs.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023