What is the Latin word for probation?

The usual Latin words for “probation” are spectātiō, explōrātiō, probātiō; also exāmen, tentātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“probation” in Latin

spectātiōsight, spectacle; examination, inspection; respect, regard, consideration explōrātiōan examination, exploration; spying probātiōtest, trial, inspection, examination; approbation, approval, assent; proof, demonstration exāmenswarm of bees; crowd; tongue of a balance; a consideration, an examining tentātiōtemptation; trial, proof

The English word probation itself goes back to Latin probō, through probatio.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

probation

spectatio: exploratio: probatio: examen (Cic.; inspection, examination): tentatio (Liv., trial). The period of probation, *vita in qua exercemur ad virtutem, ad felicitatem futuram: a time of probation, *tempus ad alicujus facultates experiendum constitutum; *tempus tirocinii.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for probation?: The usual Latin words for “probation” are spectātiō, explōrātiō, probātiō; also exāmen, tentātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.