两个词组极易被人们当作同一术语“军法”，事实上两者之间差异较大。区别在于martial law是“军事管制法”，指: (1)军事当局在一占领领地所实施的法律；（2)非常时期，在文职政府执法机构无法维持秩序与安全时由军队所实施的一种紧急管制法，其实用的对象为整个国家或国民[1]。而military law则是指由军队实施的法律，按规定，其适用对象应为军人以及军队中相关的文职雇员，故应译为“军法”[2];其也被称为 military justice，在不严谨情况下有时可被当作martial law,但 martial law 却不能当作 military law 使用[3]。

[1]“ The law by which during wartime the army，instead of civil authority，governs the country because of a perceived need for military security or public safety. The military assumes control purportedly until civil authority can be restored. ” Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 989, West Group (1999).

[2]“Law enforced by military rather than civil authority, specifically law prescribed by statute for the government of the armed forces and accompanying civilian employees. ” Cf. Linda Picard Wood，J. D., Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 313, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

[3]“The branch of public law governing millitary discipline and other rules regarding service in the armed forces. Sometimes loosely termed martial law.”Cf. Bry A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1007, West Group (1999).