diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/lib.rs
index 18f229564c2..1886debde9b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/lib.rs
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ fn register_builtins(store: &mut LintStore, no_interleave_lints: bool) {
         PATH_STATEMENTS,
         UNUSED_ATTRIBUTES,
         UNUSED_MACROS,
+        UNUSED_MACRO_RULES,
         UNUSED_ALLOCATION,
         UNUSED_DOC_COMMENTS,
         UNUSED_EXTERN_CRATES,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint_defs/src/builtin.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint_defs/src/builtin.rs
index a42e3d5d957..d13e60e2ebc 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint_defs/src/builtin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint_defs/src/builtin.rs
@@ -749,6 +749,10 @@ declare_lint! {
 declare_lint! {
     /// The `unused_macros` lint detects macros that were not used.
     ///
+    /// Note that this lint is distinct from the `unused_macro_rules` lint,
+    /// which checks for single rules that never match of an otherwise used
+    /// macro, and thus never expand.
+    ///
     /// ### Example
     ///
     /// ```rust
@@ -775,6 +779,45 @@ declare_lint! {
     "detects macros that were not used"
 }
 
+declare_lint! {
+    /// The `unused_macro_rules` lint detects macro rules that were not used.
+    ///
+    /// Note that the lint is distinct from the `unused_macros` lint, which
+    /// fires if the entire macro is never called, while this lint fires for
+    /// single unused rules of the macro that is otherwise used.
+    /// `unused_macro_rules` fires only if `unused_macros` wouldn't fire.
+    ///
+    /// ### Example
+    ///
+    /// ```rust
+    /// macro_rules! unused_empty {
+    ///     (hello) => { println!("Hello, world!") }; // This rule is unused
+    ///     () => { println!("empty") }; // This rule is used
+    /// }
+    ///
+    /// fn main() {
+    ///     unused_empty!(hello);
+    /// }
+    /// ```
+    ///
+    /// {{produces}}
+    ///
+    /// ### Explanation
+    ///
+    /// Unused macro rules may signal a mistake or unfinished code. Furthermore,
+    /// they slow down compilation. Right now, silencing the warning is not
+    /// supported on a single rule level, so you have to add an allow to the
+    /// entire macro definition.
+    ///
+    /// If you intended to export the macro to make it
+    /// available outside of the crate, use the [`macro_export` attribute].
+    ///
+    /// [`macro_export` attribute]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/reference/macros-by-example.html#path-based-scope
+    pub UNUSED_MACRO_RULES,
+    Warn,
+    "detects macro rules that were not used"
+}
+
 declare_lint! {
     /// The `warnings` lint allows you to change the level of other
     /// lints which produce warnings.
@@ -3138,6 +3181,7 @@ declare_lint_pass! {
         OVERLAPPING_RANGE_ENDPOINTS,
         BINDINGS_WITH_VARIANT_NAME,
         UNUSED_MACROS,
+        UNUSED_MACRO_RULES,
         WARNINGS,
         UNUSED_FEATURES,
         STABLE_FEATURES,