# probation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌpɹə(ʊ)ˈbeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #9,800

## Definitions
1. A period of time when a person occupies a position only conditionally and may be removed if certain conditions are not met.
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.
3. A testing period of time.
4. The act of testing; proof.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **promotion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/probation-vs-promotion)
- **predation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/predation-vs-probation)

## Common misspellings (14)
`porbation`, `pprobation`, `prboation`, `proabtion`, `probaiton`, `probasion`, `probatino`, `probationn`, `probatoin`, `probattion`, `probbation`, `probtaion`, `prrobation`, `rpobation`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/probation