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

But the project remains on probation, at least until the appeals courts — and possibly the Supreme Court — finally resolve the dispute. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 Feb. 2026

However, the court stayed the prison sentence and placed Rohloff on probation for 18 months. —Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Alvarado pleaded guilty in that case and got one year on probation. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

The December indictment noted that while the misconduct was taking place, the female officer was still on probation with the department, vulnerable to termination without cause. —Luke Parker, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for on probation

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