- 1(law) a system that allows a person who has committed a crime not to go to prison if they behave well and if they see an official (called aprobation officer) regularly for a fixed period of time The prisoner was put on probation. He was given two years' probation.
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- 2a time of training and testing when you start a new job to see if you are suitable for the work a period of probation
- 3a fixed period of time during which a student who has behaved badly or not worked hard must improve their work or their behavior
NAmE//proʊˈbeɪʃəˌnɛri//
adjective a probationary period young probationary teachersSee probation in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: probation