on probation

idiom

1

: being tested and watched at a new job to see if one is able to do the job properly

As a new employee, I will be on probation for three months.

2

: being allowed to stay out of prison after committing a crime if one behaves well, does not commit another crime, etc.

She was arrested while on probation.

3

: being watched for a period of time during which one must behave well in order not to be seriously punished after having made a serious mistake or done something bad

He was on probation for cheating.

The student was put/placed on probation for copying test answers.

Examples of on probation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As part of a plea deal, Nail had to resign and pay fines, and he was barred from holding office while on probation. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026

When Mitchell was released on probation in 2024, he was ordered to attend college in Sacramento and participate in a weekend furlough from juvenile hall, court records show. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026

Graham Dunn criminal history Dallas County court records show that Dunn had been on probation for a misdemeanor charge of family violence stemming from an incident in June of 2023. —Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026

After his release from jail, Morris will serve the remainder of the sentence on probation in Texas. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for on probation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation