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

His plea called for two years in jail and three years on probation. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

While on probation, a violation would expose him to an additional 10 years in prison, court records show. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026

The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times. —Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026

The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for on probation

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