Meaning

noun a trial period during which your character and abilities are tested to see whether you are suitable for work or for membership

noun a trial period during which an offender has time to redeem himself or herself

noun (law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court

originInherited 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 3.0