probation

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
probation/prəˈbeɪʃn/

▶noun

• 1 Law the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behaviour under supervision.

• 2 the process of testing or observing the character or abilities of a person who is new to a role or job.

– derivatives
probational adjective,
probationary adjective.

– origin ME: from OFr. probacion, from L. probatio(n-), from probare (see prove).