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
The college was placed on probation five times for improper benefits.
—
Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 6 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Naim was previously placed on probation by the medical board after the death of Kira Johnson, whose passing led to a public outcry and drew federal attention to the treatment of pregnant Black patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Stillwell was found guilty on one count of felony gun possession and sentenced by Judge Paige Whitaker to 10 years on probation with an allowance for time already served.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
Cancel-Soto and Clark were also on probation at the time of the shooting for crimes in Anne Arundel County just last year, according to online court records.
—Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024
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Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 6 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Naim was previously placed on probation by the medical board after the death of Kira Johnson, whose passing led to a public outcry and drew federal attention to the treatment of pregnant Black patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Stillwell was found guilty on one count of felony gun possession and sentenced by Judge Paige Whitaker to 10 years on probation with an allowance for time already served.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
Cancel-Soto and Clark were also on probation at the time of the shooting for crimes in Anne Arundel County just last year, according to online court records.
—Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on probation
Dictionary Entries Near on probation
Cite this Entry
“On probation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20probation. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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