prōˈbāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English probacioun, from Middle French probation, from Latin probation-, probatio, from probatus (past participle of probare to try, test, approve, prove) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at prove
1.
a.
(1) : the action of critically testing and evaluating : critical investigation or examination
our statements about them will never sustain empirical probation — A.C.Danto
(2) : the condition of being subjected to such testing, examination, and evaluation
an educational system that has been through a long period of probation
b.
(1) : the action of subjecting an individual to a period of testing and trial so as to be able to ascertain the individual's fitness or lack of fitness for something (as a particular job, membership in a particular organization, retention of a particular academic classification, enrollment in a particular school)
an engineering company that submits all candidates for jobs to a rigorous probation
(2) : the condition of being subjected to such testing and trial
was put on probation
(3) : the period during which an individual is subjected to such testing and trial : a trial period
his probation was to last one year
c.
(1) : the action of suspending the sentence of a convicted offender in such a way that the offender is given freedom after promising good behavior and agreeing to a varying degree of supervision, to the usually imposed condition of making a report to a particular officer or court at stated intervals, and to any other additionally specified conditions
hoped that the judge would grant him probation
(2) : the condition of one whose sentence has been suspended in such a way : the status of one that is being so tested
knew that prison faced him if he got in trouble again during his probation
(3) : the period during which one whose sentence has been suspended in such a way is required to fulfill the specified conditions
a long probation
2. archaic
a. : something that constitutes proof : evidence
b. : the action of proving that something is what it is asserted to be : demonstration