materiál

Matériel is a French noun meaning equipment, gear, or supplies necessary to perform a task. The standard French spelling is matériel; the form materiel (without the accent) appears in English texts and sometimes as a simplified spelling in non-French contexts. In French, matériel generally refers to tangible assets used to accomplish activities, from tools and machinery to vehicles and devices. It contrasts with matière (matter or substance) and with outillage (hand tools) in certain nuances.

Common contexts include matériel informatique (computer hardware), matériel agricole (agricultural equipment), or matériel de bureau (office equipment). In military usage, the term extends to weapons, vehicles, ammunition, and other support assets and is often translated as military equipment or matériel.

Usage notes: In logistics and accounting, matériel is treated as a category of assets or inventory; maintenance, depreciation, and replacement cycles apply to matériel as to other physical assets. The term derives from Latin materialis via Old French and has cognates in several languages. In English, the form materiel is used especially to refer to military equipment, while the French matériel covers the broader sense of tangible hardware across civilian and military contexts.

Summary: Matériel denotes physical equipment and assets used across many sectors. Its precise scope depends on context, but it consistently refers to tangible hardware needed for work, operations, or activity.