Materiel vs. Material
“Matériel” (often typed without the accent as “materiel”) is a specialized military word for equipment and supplies. “Material” is the much broader word for substances, information, cloth, or supplies. The words overlap around supplies but are not interchangeable in every context.
Use “materiel” for military equipment and supplies; use “material” for substances, information, cloth, or general materials.
Key details
Further guidance
General Term
Cambridge gives material several broader senses, including physical substances and information.
Overlap Boundary
Because “material” can itself refer to supplies, context—not sound alone—decides whether the specialized military term is needed.
Specialized Term
Cambridge marks matériel as a specialized military noun for equipment and supplies.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Matériel — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Dictionary record for military matériel/equipment and supplies
- Material — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Dictionary senses for material including substances, information, and supplies