probate

UK: /ˈprəʊbeɪt/ US: /ˈproʊbeɪt/ ,(prō′bāt)

Inflections of 'probate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

probates

v 3rd person singular

probating

v pres p

probated

v past

probated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pro•bate /ˈproʊbeɪt/   n., adj., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. [uncountable]

1. Law the process or procedure of officially proving that a will is authentic in a court.

adj. [before a noun]

2. Law of or relating to this process, or to the court where it takes place.

v. [~ + object]

3. Law to prove that (a will) is valid.

See -prob-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pro•bate  (prō′bāt), n., adj., v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing. 
n. 

1. Law the official proving of a will as authentic or valid in a probate court.
2. an officially certified copy of a will so proved.

adj. 

3. of or pertaining to probate or a probate court.

v.t. 

4. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will).
5. Lawmaking to put (an offender) on probation.

• Latin probātum a thing approved, noun, nominal use of neuter past participle of probāre to test and find good; see probe, -ate¹
• late Middle English probat 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

probate / ˈprəʊbɪt -beɪt/ noun

1. the act or process of officially proving the authenticity and validity of a will
2. the official certificate stating a will to be genuine and conferring on the executors power to administer the estate
3. (modifier) of, relating to, or concerned with probate: probate value, a probate court

verb

1. (transitive) to establish officially the authenticity and validity of (a will)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin probāre to inspect