Derived from the Latin zōdiacus, meaning "circle of animals", the name "zodiac" is motivated by the fact that more than half of the signs are represented as animals. Virtually everyone has heard of the zodiac signs, when these signs are taken as the most important determinants of an individual's personality.

In natural astrology, the use of zodiac signs is much more self-effacing. These are considered to depict and modify the energies of the planets, bringing out undeniable traits of a planet, holding back others, although without changing that planetary energy. Some astrologers also see the zodiac signs as the epitome of "cyclic time", these being in phases or levels of developmentwithin the stipulated cycle.

Even though the zodiac signs remain the foundation of the ecliptic coordinate system used in astronomy, this term and the names of the twelve signs (which are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces) are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology.

Sometimes, people confuse zodiac signs with sun signs. If an individual is a Gemini, it implies that he or she was born at that time of the year when the Sun was in the zodiac sign of Gemini. Since our calendar is based on the motions of the Sun around the zodiac, the Sun is in Gemini at nearly the same time period each year. Therefore, the 12 zodiac signs are like months of a calendar representing time, not space.