different between probation vs vacation

English

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?o??be???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

probation (countable and uncountable, plural probations)

1. A period of time when a person occupies a position only conditionally and may easily be removed for poor performance

2. (law) A type of sentence where convicted criminals are allowed to continue living in the community but will automatically be sent to jail if they violate certain conditions

3. (archaic) The act of testing; proof
   • 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, page 20,

     And I shall proceed to consider the testimony of Experience, when I shall have first advertis'd You, that if Men were as perfectly rational as 'tis to be wish'd they were, this sensible way of Probation would be as needless as 'tis wont to be imperfect.

Derived terms

• probationary
• probation officer
• academic probation

Related terms

• probate
• probe
• prove

Translations

Further reading

• probation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• probation in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Pronunciation

Noun

probation f (plural probations)

1. probation (especially religious)

English

Etymology

From Middle English vacation, vacacion, vacacioun, from Anglo-Norman vacacioun, from Old French vacacion, vacation, from Latin vac?ti?.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /v??ke??(?)n/, /ve??ke??(?)n/
• (US) enPR: v?-k?'sh?n, IPA^(key): /ve??ke???n/, /v??ke??(?)n/
• Rhymes: -e???n, -e??n
• Hyphenation: va?ca?tion

Noun

vacation (countable and uncountable, plural vacations)

1. Freedom from some business or activity. [from 14th c.]
2. (obsolete) Free time given over to a specific purpose; occupation, activity. [15th-17th c.]
3. A period during which official activity or business is formally suspended; an official holiday from university, law courts etc. [from 15th c.]
4. (Canada, US) A holiday; a stretch of leisure time away from work or duty and devoted to rest or pleasure. [from 19th c.]
5. The act of vacating something; moving out. [from 19th c.]

6. (US, law) The act of making legally void.

Synonyms

• (freedom from some activity): holiday (UK)
• (free time given over to a specific purpose): annulment, revocation
• (a stretch of leisure time away from work): holiday (UK); see also Thesaurus:vacation
• (act of vacating something): departure, moveout

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

vacation (third-person singular simple present vacations, present participle vacationing, simple past and past participle vacationed)

1. (intransitive) To spend or take a vacation.

   This year, we’re vacationing in Mexico.

Synonyms

• (Britain) go on holiday
• go on vacation
• holiday

Translations

Related terms

• vacate

Anagrams

• Octavian

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.ka.sj??/

Noun

vacation f (plural vacations)

1. (law) session

Further reading

• “vacation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).