— probational, probationary /proh bay"sheuh ner'ee/ , adj. — probationship , n.
/proh bay"sheuhn/ , n.
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.
a. a method of dealing with offenders, esp. young persons guilty of minor crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation officer.
b. the state of having been conditionally released.
5. Educ. 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.
[ 1375-1425; late ME probacion probation- (s. of probatio ). See PROBATE, -ION ]