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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

County Probation Oversight Commission and a former county probation officer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025

The court heard Vernon had described being "young and scared", expressing remorse to a probation officer and apologising to the man and his family.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025

“I talked to a probation officer whose home had been in the family forever, and I’m not going to look her in the eye and say, ‘You can’t build.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025

Like a special psychologist or a probation officer.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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