Definition

Proper noun A decisive military engagement in the American Revolutionary War, fought in 1777 near Saratoga, New York. It culminated in the surrender of the British army under General John Burgoyne to American forces led by General Horatio Gates. This victory is widely considered a major turning point in the war, as it convinced France to formally ally with the United States.

Usage Examples

• The Battle of Saratoga is often cited as the turning point of the American Revolution.
• Historians study the tactics used in the Battle of Saratoga.
• The surrender following the Battle of Saratoga was a significant blow to British morale.

Advanced Usage

• "The Saratoga Campaign": This term refers to the broader series of military maneuvers and smaller battles in 1777 that led to the climactic Battle of Saratoga.
• The battle is sometimes referred to simply as "Saratoga" in historical contexts where the military conflict is implied.
  • The victory at Saratoga changed the course of the war.

Variants and Related Words

• Saratoga Campaign (noun phrase): The overall British offensive of 1777, of which the Battle of Saratoga was the decisive conclusion.
• Battles of Saratoga (noun phrase): A term sometimes used to refer to the two distinct engagements—the Battle of Freeman's Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights—that together constitute the Battle of Saratoga.

Synonyms

• The Turning Point (contextual synonym, when referring to its strategic consequence in the American Revolution).
• Burgoyne's Surrender (descriptive synonym focusing on the outcome).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A Saratoga moment" (rare, contextual): Used metaphorically to describe a critical turning point in any prolonged struggle or competition.
  • The successful product launch was the company's Saratoga moment in its battle for market share.

Noun

1. a battle during the American Revolution (1777); the British under Burgoyne were defeated