/ prəˈbeɪʃn; NAmE proʊ-/ noun [ U ]
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 a probation officer ) regularly for a fixed period of time :
The prisoner was put on probation .
He was given two years' probation.
2.
a time of training and testing when you start a new job to see if you are suitable for the work :
a period of probation
3.
( NAmE ) a fixed period of time during which a student who has behaved badly or not worked hard must improve their work or their behaviour
► pro·ba·tion·ary / prəˈbeɪʃnri; NAmE proʊˈbeɪʃəneri/ adjective :
a probationary period
young probationary teachers
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting testing or investigation): from Old French probacion , from Latin probatio(n-) , from probare to test, prove, from probus good. The legal use dates from the late 19th cent.