Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who is serving a period of probation: This refers to someone who has been released from prison on the condition of good behavior, or a person given a suspended sentence under court supervision, instead of serving time in prison.
   • A trainee undergoing a trial period: Specifically, this often refers to a new nurse or other professional who is in a supervised training or trial period before gaining full qualifications or permanent status.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Legal Context):

  • The probationer must report to an officer every week. (The person on probation must report to an officer every week.)
  • He was a probationer for two years after his release. (He was under court supervision for two years after his release.)

• Noun (Professional Training Context):

  • She worked long hours as a probationer at the hospital. (She worked long hours as a nurse in training at the hospital.)
  • All new teachers start as probationers for their first year. (All new teachers begin in a trial period for their first year.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be on probation": This is the common state of being a probationer.
  • After the incident, the employee was put on probation for six months. (After the incident, the employee was placed in a trial period for six months.)

Variants and Related Words

• Probation (n): The system or period of testing and supervising a probationer.
  • He was sentenced to three years' probation. (He was given a sentence of three years of court supervision.)
• Probationary (adj): Relating to or serving a probationary period.
  • She completed her probationary year successfully. (She successfully completed her trial year.)

Synonyms

• Trainee: A person undergoing training for a particular job or profession.
• Novice: A person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.
• Parolee: A prisoner who is released on parole (a specific type of conditional release, similar to probation).

Related Phrases

• To serve probation: To complete a period of probation.
  • He is currently serving probation for a minor offense. (He is currently completing a period of court supervision for a minor offense.)
• Probation officer: The official who supervises people on probation.
  • The probationer met with his probation officer. (The person on probation met with his supervising officer.)

Noun

1. someone released on probation or on parole
2. a nurse in training who is undergoing a trial period