What does polydipsia mean?
Polydipsia is the medical term for excessive or persistent thirst. It may occur as a symptom of dehydration, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, certain medications, or other conditions, and it can also describe compulsive or excessive fluid intake in the absence of an obvious medical cause. In a clinical setting, the term is more specific than ordinary thirst because it suggests a symptom that is unusual in intensity or duration. Doctors may use it when evaluating a patient's fluid intake, urine output, blood glucose, kidney function, and electrolyte balance. The word is especially useful because it distinguishes the experience of excessive thirst from the underlying disorders that may produce it. In psychogenic polydipsia, the excessive drinking is linked to a psychological or behavioral pattern rather than a primary bodily disease.
nounExcessive or persistent thirst, especially as a symptom of dehydration, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, or another medical condition. In clinical contexts, it can also refer to an abnormal tendency to drink excessive amounts of fluid.
- Excessive or persistent thirst, especially as a medical symptom.
- The clinical condition or habit of drinking excessive amounts of fluid, sometimes classified as psychogenic or primary polydipsia.
"Her persistent polydipsia led the doctor to investigate for diabetes and other underlying causes."
"The patient developed polydipsia after beginning a new medication."
"Psychogenic polydipsia may require a different approach from polydipsia caused by diabetes mellitus."
Polydipsia is a medical name for a thirst that seems impossible to quench—and its Greek roots literally mean “much thirst.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How polydipsia is actually used
This is primarily a medical term. It is more specific than simply saying that someone is thirsty and should generally be used when the thirst is excessive, persistent, or clinically significant. The American pronunciation commonly uses /ɑː/ for the first vowel.
Easily confused with polydipsia
Polydipsia is the symptom of excessive thirst, whereas diabetes insipidus is a disorder that can cause that symptom through impaired production or action of antidiuretic hormone.
Polydipsia means excessive thirst, while hydrophobia more commonly means an intense fear of water; its older medical sense concerning rabies is now rare.