probation
/ˌpɹoʊˈbeɪʃən/noun
probation is spelled P-R-O-B-A-T-I-O-N: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, probation means “A period of time when a person occupies a position only conditionally and may be removed if certain conditions are not met” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of probation is probations.
How many letters and syllables are in probation?
| Letters | 9: P-R-O-B-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 6.2 times per million words; the 9,735th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is probation?
Probation appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce probation?
- UK /ˌpɹə(ʊ)ˈbeɪʃən/
- US /ˌpɹoʊˈbeɪʃən/
Probation has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vininn126-probation.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with probation?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as probation from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/):
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
- location
- generation
- foundation
- conversation
- investigation
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of probation
- probations plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does probation mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A period of time when a person occupies a position only conditionally and may be removed if certain conditions are not met.
You'll be on probation for first six months. After that, if you work out, they'll hire you permanently.
- 2
A type of sentence where convicted criminals are permitted to continue living in a community but will automatically be sent to jail if they violate certain conditions.
He got two years probation for robbery.
- 3
A testing period of time.
- 4
archaicThe act of testing; proof.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate probation?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of probation: Prob..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Probation in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | période d'essai , liberté conditionnelle |
| German | Probezeit , Bewährung |
| Portuguese | contrato de experiência, período de experiência , condicional |
| Spanish | periodo de prueba , libertad condicional |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does probation come from?
Inherited 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.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).