polydipsia

[pol-ee-dip-see-uh]

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. excessive thirst.

polydipsia

/ ˌpɒlɪˈdɪpsɪə /

noun

1. pathol excessive thirst

Other Word Forms

• polydipsic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polydipsia¹

1650–60; < New Latin < Greek polydíps ( ios ) very thirsty ( poly- poly- + díps ( a ) thirst + -ios adj. suffix) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of polydipsia¹

C18: New Latin, from _poly- + -dipsia, from Greek dipsa thirst

Example Sentences

Her medical cause of death was hyponatraemic encephalopathy, acute hyponatremia and psychogenic polydipsia.

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Dr. Refardt sums up: "In view of these results, we recommend the salt infusion test as the gold standard for reliable differentiation between polydipsia and vasopressin deficiency."

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On the other hand, some individuals experience polydipsia—a condition that causes excessive, unquenchable thirst.

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Thus psychogenic polydipsia might be cited to prove water a drug of dependence.

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Sometimes that process isn’t as straightforward as it should be: People with a syndrome called polydipsia feel excessive thirst and drink enormous quantities of water.

Read more on New York Times