What does polydipsia mean?

• A. Excessive sweating.
• B. Excessive urination.
• C. Excessive hunger.
• D. Excessive thirst.

Answer: (D)

Polydipsia is the medical term for excessive thirst. The prefix poly- means many or excessive, and dipsia relates to thirst, so the word literally points to drinking more due to intense thirst. It’s a symptom you’d notice as someone drinks a lot and feels continually thirsty, not related to sweating, hunger, or urination. The other options describe different symptoms—excessive sweating, excessive urination, or excessive hunger—so they don’t fit polydipsia.