Probation is the trial period at a new job before it becomes permanent. On probation, pass your probation, a six-month probation.
In that sense it is a fixed stretch during which either side can end the arrangement easily. In criminal justice, probation is a sentence served in the community under supervision instead of in prison, and a probation officer supervises it. The two senses share the idea of being watched to see how you do. Note probationary, the adjective, and probationer, which in nursing and the church means somebody in training.
1nounprobationThe trial period at a new job.
“Probation is six months and almost nobody fails it.”
synonyms: trial period
2nounsentenceA sentence served under supervision in the community.
“He was on probation for about eighteen months.”
probation is a period of testing.
Also accepted in games: trial period
Latin probatio means a testing or proving, from probare, to test — the same verb behind prove, probe and approve. Probation is a period of proof, in both the workplace and the court.
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰuH-
Latin
probatio — a trying, inspection, examination
Old French
probacion
Middle French
probation
Middle English
probacioun
English, today
probation
Built from
Middle English probacioun, from Middle French probation, from Old French probacion, from Latin probatio (“a trying, inspection, examination”), from probare, past participle probatus (“to test, examine”); see probate, probe, prove.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA