PROBATION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does probation mean? 

• PROBATION (noun)
  The noun PROBATION has 3 senses:

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

  Familiarity information: PROBATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROBATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Hypernyms ("probation" is a kind of...):

test period; trial period (a period of time during which someone or something is tested)

Derivation:

probationary (under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Hypernyms ("probation" is a kind of...):

test period; trial period (a period of time during which someone or something is tested)

Derivation:

probate (put a convicted person on probation by suspending his sentence)

probationary (under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

probation is part of the sentencing process

Hypernyms ("probation" is a kind of...):

freeing; liberation; release (the act of liberating someone or something)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

probate (put a convicted person on probation by suspending his sentence)

 Context examples 

The system thus entered on, I pursued during the whole season of probation; and with the best success.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

In the beginning of the change that gradually worked in me, when I tried to get a better understanding of myself and be a better man, I did glance, through some indefinite probation, to a period when I might possibly hope to cancel the mistaken past, and to be so blessed as to marry her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

All was clear to probation.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It was settled that I should begin my month's probation as soon as I pleased, and that my aunt need neither remain in town nor return at its expiration, as the articles of agreement, of which I was to be the subject, could easily be sent to her at home for her signature.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)