Link Centre Dictionary

probation

pro·ba·tion

UK/ˌpɹə(ʊ)ˈbeɪʃən/ US/ˌpɹoʊˈbeɪʃən/ fairly common

noun

1.

a trial period during which your character and abilities are tested to see whether you are suitable for work or for membership

2.

a trial period during which an offender has time to redeem himself or herself

3.

(law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court

  • “probation is part of the sentencing process”

Origin

Inherited from Middle English probacioun, from Middle French probation, from Old French probacion, from Latin probatio (“a trying, inspection, examination”), from probare, past participle probatus (“to test, examine”); see probate, probe, prove.

Phrases

  • academic probation
  • come on vacation, leave on probation
  • probation officer

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.