对称性破缺（symmetry breaking）系指物理学里，在具有某种对称性的物理系统之临界点附近发生的微小振荡，通过选择所有可能分岔中的一个分岔，打破了这物理系统的对称性，并且决定了这物理系统的命运。例如当水温降至接近冰点时，水中各处看起来皆相同，因此水系统具有空间上的对称性，此时若某处的温度振荡至低于冰点，便破坏了对称性，且决定了所凝固之冰的结构。对于外在观察者，不清楚有涨落（或热噪声）的存在，会觉得这选择相当随机或任意。在图样形成（pattern formation）里，对称性破缺占有重要角色。

In physics, symmetry breaking is a phenomenon in which (infinitesimally) small fluctuations acting on a system crossing a critical point decide the system's fate, by determining which branch of a bifurcation is taken. To an outside observer unaware of the fluctuations (or "noise"), the choice will appear arbitrary. This process is called symmetry "breaking", because such transitions usually bring the system from a symmetric but disorderly state into one or more definite states. Symmetry breaking is supposed to play a major role in pattern formation.