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

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

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

Flores pleaded no contest to grand theft this year and was sentenced to two years of probation in connection with a March burglary, court records show.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The money would come on the stipulation that the recipient works in Wales for five years after passing their probation.

Read more on BBC

County’s juvenile halls in 2018 and found probation officers were using pepper spray excessively, failing to provide proper educational and therapeutic programming and detaining youths in solitary confinement for far too long.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Boardman said she didn’t consider Roske a threat to the public and was confident that, upon her release, her family and probation would help her manage her mental health issues.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Following a jail stint for assault and theft, Mike gets a probation officer, a room at a hostel and a cook job at a shabby hotel.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• trial