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
Code Switch Almost 4 million people are on probation or parole.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2025
Darius Williams is no longer the Arlington Sam Houston boys’ basketball coach after being ejected while on probation.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
Both his stints at Oklahoma (1994-2006) and Indiana (2006-08) ended with his teams on probation for NCAA violations.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 6 Apr. 2025
District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson on Tuesday announced the charges against Lawrence Holley, 48, who was on probation at the time of the Friday afternoon attack near International Boulevard and 104th Avenue.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on probation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2025
Darius Williams is no longer the Arlington Sam Houston boys’ basketball coach after being ejected while on probation.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
Both his stints at Oklahoma (1994-2006) and Indiana (2006-08) ended with his teams on probation for NCAA violations.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 6 Apr. 2025
District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson on Tuesday announced the charges against Lawrence Holley, 48, who was on probation at the time of the Friday afternoon attack near International Boulevard and 104th Avenue.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on probation
Cite this Entry
“On probation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20probation. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share