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 medical review of test results is expensive, and few state agencies require it for child welfare cases or for testing people on probation. —Lucas Waldron, ProPublica, 6 Jan. 2026

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and after his release on Monday, will remain on probation for five years. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

Sanchez was on probation after, earlier this year, pleading guilty to resisting an officer, according to the DA’s Office statement. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025

At the time of her arrest, Hay was reportedly on probation for a 2017 DUI charge. —Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for on probation

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