Probation: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in a legal or employment context to describe a period during which a person's behavior or performance is closely observed to determine if they meet certain standards.

• After his release from prison, he was placed on probation for two years.
• During the first six months of your employment, you will be on probation.

Used to indicate the action of overseeing activities or people, often to ensure tasks are completed correctly and safely. It is frequently used in work or educational settings.

• Construction workers must operate under strict supervision to minimize accidents.
• Students work better under the supervision of a qualified teacher.

Generally used in various contexts to describe the continuous observation or checking of a process, system, or behavior to ensure that it functions as expected.

• The patient's vital signs require constant monitoring.
• We are monitoring the weather closely for any signs of a storm.

Refers to a designated timeframe during which someone or something is tested to assess its suitability, performance, or quality before making a final decision. Commonly used in employment, software testing, and product usage.

• The new software comes with a 30-day trial period, after which you must purchase a license.
• You will work under a three-month trial period before we decide on permanent employment.

This is used mostly in legal or employment contexts to describe a period during which someone's behavior or performance is closely monitored.

• After being released from jail, he was placed on probation for two years
• During her probation period at the company, her work was reviewed every week

This is often used in employment, subscription services, or product testing contexts to describe a temporary phase during which something is used or tested before making a final decision.

• She was hired on a three-month trial period to see if she would be a good fit for the team
• The software comes with a 30-day free trial period

This is a more formal term used to describe a systematic determination of a subject's merit, worth, or significance, often with feedback for improvement. It can be used in work, academic, and various project scenarios.

• The team will conduct an evaluation of the project's success next month
• Employee performance evaluations are scheduled for next week

This is used when referring to the process of judging or evaluating the value, quality, or importance of something, commonly in educational, financial, or professional settings.

• The students will undergo a skills assessment at the end of the course
• The property tax assessment was higher than expected this year

This is a duplicate entry and has the same context and examples as above.

This phrase is generally used in business, education, or research to describe a specific time frame during which performance, skills, or results are assessed.

• The company has an evaluation period every quarter to review employee performance.
• The evaluation period for the new teaching methods will last six months.

This term is commonly used in project management or academic settings to describe an initial stage where processes, skills, or capabilities are evaluated.

• The project is currently in the assessment phase, so we are gathering all necessary information.
• During the assessment phase of the course, students will be evaluated on their understanding of the material.

This term is often used in the context of subscriptions, services, or products to describe a temporary period during which a user can try out the service or product before making a commitment.

• We offer a 30-day trial period for our software so you can see if it meets your needs.
• The new employee is in a trial period to determine if he is a good fit for the role.