probation

American  

[proh-bey-shuhn] / proʊˈbeɪ ʃən /

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.

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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

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

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

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman would investigate the death.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Hanratty added that the Probation Service recognised he suffers from anxiety.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The county said it has imposed contract terms after reaching impasse over negotiations twice since 2001, once with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists in 2001 and Supervising Deputy Probation Officers in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

But Mike Watling from the Probation Service told the court he was not sure this was an opportunistic theft.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

This Life she looks upon as a Life of Probation only.

From Clarissa: Preface, Hints of Prefaces, and Postscript by Richardson, Samuel

Related Words

• trial