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
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Narbonne punished The City Section announced that the Narbonne High football team has been banned from the playoffs for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons because of rule violations, and all the school’s sports programs have been placed on probation through the 2027-28 school year. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025 Last Tuesday, the municipal court placed Kluge on probation for two years for the bite incident. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2025 Troopers found that Baez was on probation and that his criminal history included charges of stealing a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, sale of narcotics and possession with intent to sell, among others, the warrant affidavit said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025 However, the organization has so far defended its policies and the decision to put Turner on probation. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on probation

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Cite this Entry

“On probation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20probation. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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