probation

American  

[proh-bey-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

Etymology

Origin of probation

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

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

The defence barrister then asked for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by probation on his client, with the Crown confirming Victim Impact Statements will also be made.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

In some cases, prosecutors have spared big companies from that risk by putting them on a form of corporate probation known as a deferred prosecution agreement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

He later pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to probation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The NAO says that part of the problem is a shortfall of around 2,200 full time probation officers, which the government expects to reduce to around 1,500 by September of this year.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

He then thanked Kaylene for what he characterized as her excellent probation report, reminding the courtroom it recommended a sentence of fifteen days.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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

Some want uniform caps on probation terms and the Senate bill calls for such limits: three years for misdemeanors and five years for probations.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 22, 2020

A super prison would be "cheaper and better," but there are "risks about having a big institution that then becomes difficult to control," explains former Conservative prisons and probations minister, Crispin Blunt.

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2013

I will stand steady, and rejoice in the severest probations.'

From Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli, Volume I by Fuller, Margaret

Related Words

• trial