English Reference

Word

materiel

Phoneticsma·teriel

/məˌtɪɹiˈɛɫ/

Definition

n. the equipment, supplies, and tools used by an army or other military force. It is a formal word for things like weapons, vehicles, and uniforms.

n. the equipment, supplies, and other physical resources used by a military force. Often used in formal or technical contexts to distinguish physical assets from personnel or abstract concepts.

Examples

“The soldiers checked their materiel before the mission began.”

“The logistics officer was responsible for ensuring that all materiel was transported to the front lines on schedule.”

“Modern military strategy requires a sophisticated understanding of materiel management to ensure that every unit has the necessary resources to maintain operational readiness during a prolonged conflict.”

Examples

simple

“The soldiers checked their materiel before the mission began.”

contextual

“The logistics officer was responsible for ensuring that all materiel was transported to the front lines on schedule.”

complex

“Modern military strategy requires a sophisticated understanding of materiel management to ensure that every unit has the necessary resources to maintain operational readiness during a prolonged conflict.”

Real-World Examples

“When picked up, each gun is automatically sold to a black market trader for points, which can be exchanged for bigger, deadlier materiel.”
The Guardian · 21 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from French matériel. Doublet of material.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Military

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference