地质构造，简称构造，是地壳或岩石圈各个组成部分的形态及其结合方式和面貌特征的总称。构造是岩石或岩层在地球内动力的作用下产生的原始面貌。

• 形成构造的构造运动也常称为地壳运动，地壳运动通常很缓慢，以地质年代作为时间的尺度，但也有快速突变的运动，如火山喷发和地震。
• 构造的空间尺度有大有小，大的构造带纵横几千千米，小的如岩石片理甚至矿物晶格位错，但通常所说的地质构造是较大尺度上的。

Tectonics (from the Late Latin tectonicus from the Greek τεκτονικός, "pertaining to building") is concerned with the processes which control the structure and properties of the Earth's crust, and its evolution through time. In particular, it describes the processes of mountain building, the growth and behavior of the strong, old cores of continents known as cratons, and the ways in which the relatively rigid plates that comprise the Earth's outer shell interact with each other. Tectonics also provides a framework to understand the earthquake and volcanic belts which directly affect much of the global population. Tectonic studies are important for understanding erosion patterns in geomorphology and as guides for the economic geologist searching for petroleum and metallic ores.