diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/nultrans.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/nultrans.cpp
index 0d167f0194..6f075f7b50 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/nultrans.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/nultrans.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,6 @@ Transliterator* NullTransliterator::clone(void) const {
     return new NullTransliterator();
 }
 
-int32_t NullTransliterator::transliterate(Replaceable&, int32_t,
-                                          int32_t limit) const {
-    return limit;
-}
-
 void NullTransliterator::handleTransliterate(Replaceable& text, UTransPosition& offsets,
                                              UBool isIncremental) const {
     offsets.start = offsets.limit;
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/nultrans.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/nultrans.h
index ab651a926f..aaec0d2154 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/nultrans.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/nultrans.h
@@ -40,18 +40,6 @@ public:
      */
     Transliterator* clone(void) const;
 
-    /**
-     * Transliterates a segment of a string.  <code>Transliterator</code> API.
-     * @param text the string to be transliterated
-     * @param start the beginning index, inclusive; <code>0 <= start
-     * <= limit</code>.
-     * @param limit the ending index, exclusive; <code>start <= limit
-     * <= text.length()</code>.
-     * @return the new limit index
-     */
-    virtual int32_t transliterate(Replaceable &text,
-                                  int32_t start, int32_t limit) const;
-
     /**
      * Implements {@link Transliterator#handleTransliterate}.
      */