on probation

idiom

: 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.

: 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.

: 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 for someone who is already on probation, an additional charge can mean a probation violation, which can result in more sanctions. —

Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2024 Owens will be on probation for the next 10 years, though what that probation looks like depends on his behavior. —

Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 9 May 2024 Thompson, who declined to comment, was found guilty by the NYPD on two misconduct charges and was placed on probation. —

Sergio Hernandez, ProPublica, 9 May 2024 On Wednesday, Marion Superior Judge Anne Flannelly ordered Sharon Key to spend just over a year in the Indiana Department of Corrections, followed by two years on home detention with Marion County Community Corrections and another two years on probation. —

Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 8 May 2024 Sheriff’s officials said the deputies learned Gilmore was on probation and had been arrested six days earlier by the Folsom Police Department on suspicion of violently resisting an officer, vandalism, driving under the influence and drug possession charges. —

Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024 According to the Daily Mail and other outlets, Soliz is on probation for a felony firearms possession conviction. —

Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024 At the time of the kidnapping, Torres-Garcia was still on probation due to several violations. —

Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024 Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was placed on probation for three years and ordered to enter a domestic violence treatment program after pleading no contest to a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery against his wife. —

Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on probation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.