diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/ast.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/ast.rs
index 2b56e9f3a86cc..cba9121aa5a30 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/ast.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/ast.rs
@@ -645,6 +645,7 @@ impl Pat {
             // These patterns do not contain subpatterns, skip.
             PatKind::Wild
             | PatKind::Rest
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Lit(_)
             | PatKind::Range(..)
             | PatKind::Ident(..)
@@ -795,6 +796,9 @@ pub enum PatKind {
     /// only one rest pattern may occur in the pattern sequences.
     Rest,
 
+    // A never pattern `!`
+    Never,
+
     /// Parentheses in patterns used for grouping (i.e., `(PAT)`).
     Paren(P<Pat>),
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/mut_visit.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/mut_visit.rs
index 541b987292240..8ce86bf9ecf52 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/mut_visit.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/mut_visit.rs
@@ -1249,7 +1249,7 @@ pub fn noop_visit_pat<T: MutVisitor>(pat: &mut P<Pat>, vis: &mut T) {
     let Pat { id, kind, span, tokens } = pat.deref_mut();
     vis.visit_id(id);
     match kind {
-        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Rest => {}
+        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Rest | PatKind::Never => {}
         PatKind::Ident(_binding_mode, ident, sub) => {
             vis.visit_ident(ident);
             visit_opt(sub, |sub| vis.visit_pat(sub));
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/visit.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/visit.rs
index 1caa39e2dd999..9dbadcb49d3fc 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/visit.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/visit.rs
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ pub fn walk_pat<'a, V: Visitor<'a>>(visitor: &mut V, pattern: &'a Pat) {
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_expr, lower_bound);
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_expr, upper_bound);
         }
-        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Rest => {}
+        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Rest | PatKind::Never => {}
         PatKind::Tuple(elems) | PatKind::Slice(elems) | PatKind::Or(elems) => {
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_pat, elems);
         }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/pat.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/pat.rs
index 4950f6e54b5ff..017314ee4d14a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/pat.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/pat.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
             let node = loop {
                 match &pattern.kind {
                     PatKind::Wild => break hir::PatKind::Wild,
+                    PatKind::Never => break hir::PatKind::Never,
                     PatKind::Ident(binding_mode, ident, sub) => {
                         let lower_sub = |this: &mut Self| sub.as_ref().map(|s| this.lower_pat(s));
                         break self.lower_pat_ident(pattern, *binding_mode, *ident, lower_sub);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_passes/src/feature_gate.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_passes/src/feature_gate.rs
index 8fb7c7de50c6d..8851fbd28f078 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_passes/src/feature_gate.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_passes/src/feature_gate.rs
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ pub fn check_crate(krate: &ast::Crate, sess: &Session, features: &Features) {
     gate_all!(explicit_tail_calls, "`become` expression is experimental");
     gate_all!(generic_const_items, "generic const items are experimental");
     gate_all!(unnamed_fields, "unnamed fields are not yet fully implemented");
+    gate_all!(never_patterns, "`!` patterns are experimental");
 
     if !visitor.features.negative_bounds {
         for &span in spans.get(&sym::negative_bounds).iter().copied().flatten() {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
index 86aba343bc476..cbdcc683b566d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
@@ -1343,6 +1343,7 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
         is that it doesn't matter */
         match &pat.kind {
             PatKind::Wild => self.word("_"),
+            PatKind::Never => self.word("!"),
             PatKind::Ident(BindingAnnotation(by_ref, mutbl), ident, sub) => {
                 if *by_ref == ByRef::Yes {
                     self.word_nbsp("ref");
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_feature/src/unstable.rs b/compiler/rustc_feature/src/unstable.rs
index f73a286e6afe0..8182c8779ff91 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_feature/src/unstable.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_feature/src/unstable.rs
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ macro_rules! declare_features {
 // was set.
 //
 // Note that the features are grouped into internal/user-facing and then
-// sorted by version inside those groups. This is enforced with tidy.
+// sorted alphabetically inside those groups. This is enforced with tidy.
 //
 // N.B., `tools/tidy/src/features.rs` parses this information directly out of the
 // source, so take care when modifying it.
@@ -520,6 +520,8 @@ declare_features! (
     (unstable, native_link_modifiers_as_needed, "1.53.0", Some(81490), None),
     /// Allow negative trait implementations.
     (unstable, negative_impls, "1.44.0", Some(68318), None),
+    /// Allows the `!` pattern.
+    (incomplete, never_patterns, "CURRENT_RUSTC_VERSION", Some(118155), None),
     /// Allows the `!` type. Does not imply 'exhaustive_patterns' (below) any more.
     (unstable, never_type, "1.13.0", Some(35121), None),
     /// Allows diverging expressions to fall back to `!` rather than `()`.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
index bd6eba3754782..81733d8f64e2c 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ impl<'hir> Pat<'hir> {
 
         use PatKind::*;
         match self.kind {
-            Wild | Lit(_) | Range(..) | Binding(.., None) | Path(_) => true,
+            Wild | Never | Lit(_) | Range(..) | Binding(.., None) | Path(_) => true,
             Box(s) | Ref(s, _) | Binding(.., Some(s)) => s.walk_short_(it),
             Struct(_, fields, _) => fields.iter().all(|field| field.pat.walk_short_(it)),
             TupleStruct(_, s, _) | Tuple(s, _) | Or(s) => s.iter().all(|p| p.walk_short_(it)),
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ impl<'hir> Pat<'hir> {
 
         use PatKind::*;
         match self.kind {
-            Wild | Lit(_) | Range(..) | Binding(.., None) | Path(_) => {}
+            Wild | Never | Lit(_) | Range(..) | Binding(.., None) | Path(_) => {}
             Box(s) | Ref(s, _) | Binding(.., Some(s)) => s.walk_(it),
             Struct(_, fields, _) => fields.iter().for_each(|field| field.pat.walk_(it)),
             TupleStruct(_, s, _) | Tuple(s, _) | Or(s) => s.iter().for_each(|p| p.walk_(it)),
@@ -1142,6 +1142,9 @@ pub enum PatKind<'hir> {
     /// Invariant: `pats.len() >= 2`.
     Or(&'hir [Pat<'hir>]),
 
+    /// A never pattern `!`.
+    Never,
+
     /// A path pattern for a unit struct/variant or a (maybe-associated) constant.
     Path(QPath<'hir>),
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
index 8a67285598998..963b324ca1339 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ pub fn walk_pat<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(visitor: &mut V, pattern: &'v Pat<'v>) {
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_expr, lower_bound);
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_expr, upper_bound);
         }
-        PatKind::Wild => (),
+        PatKind::Never | PatKind::Wild => (),
         PatKind::Slice(prepatterns, ref slice_pattern, postpatterns) => {
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_pat, prepatterns);
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_pat, slice_pattern);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/region.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/region.rs
index 9557568b38702..37b308f9f88d3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/region.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/region.rs
@@ -662,6 +662,7 @@ fn resolve_local<'tcx>(
             PatKind::Ref(_, _)
             | PatKind::Binding(hir::BindingAnnotation(hir::ByRef::No, _), ..)
             | PatKind::Wild
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Path(_)
             | PatKind::Lit(_)
             | PatKind::Range(_, _, _) => false,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
index e9e8c7fd4fc25..b7e7d258a9047 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
@@ -1724,6 +1724,7 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
         // is that it doesn't matter
         match pat.kind {
             PatKind::Wild => self.word("_"),
+            PatKind::Never => self.word("!"),
             PatKind::Binding(BindingAnnotation(by_ref, mutbl), _, ident, sub) => {
                 if by_ref == ByRef::Yes {
                     self.word_nbsp("ref");
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr_use_visitor.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr_use_visitor.rs
index d7cf6dba9aac6..9991050d7b2d1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr_use_visitor.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr_use_visitor.rs
@@ -401,12 +401,17 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> ExprUseVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
             mc.cat_pattern(discr_place.clone(), pat, |place, pat| {
                 match &pat.kind {
                     PatKind::Binding(.., opt_sub_pat) => {
-                        // If the opt_sub_pat is None, than the binding does not count as
+                        // If the opt_sub_pat is None, then the binding does not count as
                         // a wildcard for the purpose of borrowing discr.
                         if opt_sub_pat.is_none() {
                             needs_to_be_read = true;
                         }
                     }
+                    PatKind::Never => {
+                        // A never pattern reads the value.
+                        // FIXME(never_patterns): does this do what I expect?
+                        needs_to_be_read = true;
+                    }
                     PatKind::Path(qpath) => {
                         // A `Path` pattern is just a name like `Foo`. This is either a
                         // named constant or else it refers to an ADT variant
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/mem_categorization.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/mem_categorization.rs
index 94da4bfcdc491..0bcb7c7b5d75d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/mem_categorization.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/mem_categorization.rs
@@ -766,6 +766,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> MemCategorizationContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             | PatKind::Binding(.., None)
             | PatKind::Lit(..)
             | PatKind::Range(..)
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Wild => {
                 // always ok
             }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/pat.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/pat.rs
index f11ffabf4d4d4..1ecf553d71d3b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/pat.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/pat.rs
@@ -178,6 +178,9 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         let ty = match pat.kind {
             PatKind::Wild => expected,
+            // FIXME(never_patterns): check the type is uninhabited. If that is not possible within
+            // typeck, do that in a later phase.
+            PatKind::Never => expected,
             PatKind::Lit(lt) => self.check_pat_lit(pat.span, lt, expected, ti),
             PatKind::Range(lhs, rhs, _) => self.check_pat_range(pat.span, lhs, rhs, expected, ti),
             PatKind::Binding(ba, var_id, _, sub) => {
@@ -287,9 +290,11 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
             | PatKind::Box(_)
             | PatKind::Range(..)
             | PatKind::Slice(..) => AdjustMode::Peel,
+            // A never pattern behaves somewhat like a literal or unit variant.
+            PatKind::Never => AdjustMode::Peel,
             // String and byte-string literals result in types `&str` and `&[u8]` respectively.
             // All other literals result in non-reference types.
-            // As a result, we allow `if let 0 = &&0 {}` but not `if let "foo" = &&"foo {}`.
+            // As a result, we allow `if let 0 = &&0 {}` but not `if let "foo" = &&"foo" {}`.
             //
             // Call `resolve_vars_if_possible` here for inline const blocks.
             PatKind::Lit(lt) => match self.resolve_vars_if_possible(self.check_expr(lt)).kind() {
@@ -743,6 +748,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                         | PatKind::Slice(..) => "binding",
 
                         PatKind::Wild
+                        | PatKind::Never
                         | PatKind::Binding(..)
                         | PatKind::Path(..)
                         | PatKind::Box(..)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/unused.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/unused.rs
index a7a4709e887a0..0a167b0893c59 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/unused.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/unused.rs
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ impl EarlyLintPass for UnusedParens {
             // Do not lint on `(..)` as that will result in the other arms being useless.
             Paren(_)
             // The other cases do not contain sub-patterns.
-            | Wild | Rest | Lit(..) | MacCall(..) | Range(..) | Ident(.., None) | Path(..) => {},
+            | Wild | Never | Rest | Lit(..) | MacCall(..) | Range(..) | Ident(.., None) | Path(..) => {},
             // These are list-like patterns; parens can always be removed.
             TupleStruct(_, _, ps) | Tuple(ps) | Slice(ps) | Or(ps) => for p in ps {
                 self.check_unused_parens_pat(cx, p, false, false, keep_space);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir.rs
index 00c33113692d0..c48428c713c44 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir.rs
@@ -635,7 +635,12 @@ impl<'tcx> Pat<'tcx> {
 
         use PatKind::*;
         match &self.kind {
-            Wild | Range(..) | Binding { subpattern: None, .. } | Constant { .. } | Error(_) => {}
+            Wild
+            | Never
+            | Range(..)
+            | Binding { subpattern: None, .. }
+            | Constant { .. }
+            | Error(_) => {}
             AscribeUserType { subpattern, .. }
             | Binding { subpattern: Some(subpattern), .. }
             | Deref { subpattern }
@@ -809,6 +814,9 @@ pub enum PatKind<'tcx> {
         pats: Box<[Box<Pat<'tcx>>]>,
     },
 
+    /// A never pattern `!`.
+    Never,
+
     /// An error has been encountered during lowering. We probably shouldn't report more lints
     /// related to this pattern.
     Error(ErrorGuaranteed),
@@ -1069,6 +1077,7 @@ impl<'tcx> fmt::Display for Pat<'tcx> {
 
         match self.kind {
             PatKind::Wild => write!(f, "_"),
+            PatKind::Never => write!(f, "!"),
             PatKind::AscribeUserType { ref subpattern, .. } => write!(f, "{subpattern}: _"),
             PatKind::Binding { mutability, name, mode, ref subpattern, .. } => {
                 let is_mut = match mode {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir/visit.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir/visit.rs
index 62c3ceeab8abf..4943c11848b8a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir/visit.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/thir/visit.rs
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ pub fn walk_pat<'a, 'tcx: 'a, V: Visitor<'a, 'tcx>>(visitor: &mut V, pat: &Pat<'
             is_primary: _,
             name: _,
         } => visitor.visit_pat(subpattern),
-        Binding { .. } | Wild | Error(_) => {}
+        Binding { .. } | Wild | Never | Error(_) => {}
         Variant { subpatterns, adt_def: _, args: _, variant_index: _ } | Leaf { subpatterns } => {
             for subpattern in subpatterns {
                 visitor.visit_pat(&subpattern.pattern);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/mod.rs
index 83686667a4aea..90f950d59d551 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/mod.rs
@@ -827,6 +827,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Builder<'a, 'tcx> {
             PatKind::Constant { .. }
             | PatKind::Range { .. }
             | PatKind::Wild
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Error(_) => {}
 
             PatKind::Deref { ref subpattern } => {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/simplify.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/simplify.rs
index 8a6cb26242a1f..a7f6f4873e383 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/simplify.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/simplify.rs
@@ -194,6 +194,12 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Builder<'a, 'tcx> {
                 Ok(())
             }
 
+            PatKind::Never => {
+                // A never pattern acts like a load from the place.
+                // FIXME(never_patterns): load from the place
+                Ok(())
+            }
+
             PatKind::Constant { .. } => {
                 // FIXME normalize patterns when possible
                 Err(match_pair)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/test.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/test.rs
index 6bd60972c8baa..2e7182f261eca 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/test.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/build/matches/test.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Builder<'a, 'tcx> {
             | PatKind::Array { .. }
             | PatKind::Wild
             | PatKind::Binding { .. }
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Leaf { .. }
             | PatKind::Deref { .. }
             | PatKind::Error(_) => self.error_simplifiable(match_pair),
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Builder<'a, 'tcx> {
             PatKind::Slice { .. }
             | PatKind::Array { .. }
             | PatKind::Wild
+            | PatKind::Never
             | PatKind::Or { .. }
             | PatKind::Binding { .. }
             | PatKind::AscribeUserType { .. }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/check_unsafety.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/check_unsafety.rs
index bbaa02233e571..ca532e3d292f1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/check_unsafety.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/check_unsafety.rs
@@ -247,8 +247,9 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'a, 'tcx> for UnsafetyVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
                     self.requires_unsafe(pat.span, AccessToUnionField);
                     return; // we can return here since this already requires unsafe
                 }
-                // wildcard doesn't take anything
+                // wildcard/never don't take anything
                 PatKind::Wild |
+                PatKind::Never |
                 // these just wrap other patterns
                 PatKind::Or { .. } |
                 PatKind::InlineConstant { .. } |
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/deconstruct_pat.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/deconstruct_pat.rs
index 8ddc6c924e2a5..31114190f07e8 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/deconstruct_pat.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/deconstruct_pat.rs
@@ -1557,6 +1557,12 @@ impl<'p, 'tcx> DeconstructedPat<'p, 'tcx> {
                 let pats = expand_or_pat(pat);
                 fields = Fields::from_iter(cx, pats.into_iter().map(mkpat));
             }
+            PatKind::Never => {
+                // FIXME(never_patterns): handle `!` in exhaustiveness. This is a sane default
+                // in the meantime.
+                ctor = Wildcard;
+                fields = Fields::empty();
+            }
             PatKind::Error(_) => {
                 ctor = Opaque(OpaqueId::new());
                 fields = Fields::empty();
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/mod.rs
index 8b2a96cff41db..5edb2054fd4ed 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/pattern/mod.rs
@@ -251,6 +251,8 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> PatCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
         let kind = match pat.kind {
             hir::PatKind::Wild => PatKind::Wild,
 
+            hir::PatKind::Never => PatKind::Never,
+
             hir::PatKind::Lit(value) => self.lower_lit(value),
 
             hir::PatKind::Range(ref lo_expr, ref hi_expr, end) => {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/print.rs b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/print.rs
index e449928a64357..547da7e700794 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/print.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_mir_build/src/thir/print.rs
@@ -642,6 +642,9 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> ThirPrinter<'a, 'tcx> {
             PatKind::Wild => {
                 print_indented!(self, "Wild", depth_lvl + 1);
             }
+            PatKind::Never => {
+                print_indented!(self, "Never", depth_lvl + 1);
+            }
             PatKind::AscribeUserType { ascription, subpattern } => {
                 print_indented!(self, "AscribeUserType: {", depth_lvl + 1);
                 print_indented!(self, format!("ascription: {:?}", ascription), depth_lvl + 2);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
index 8f5f4459d640a..b05868e235af6 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
@@ -368,8 +368,12 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
             self.recover_dotdotdot_rest_pat(lo)
         } else if let Some(form) = self.parse_range_end() {
             self.parse_pat_range_to(form)? // `..=X`, `...X`, or `..X`.
+        } else if self.eat(&token::Not) {
+            // Parse `!`
+            self.sess.gated_spans.gate(sym::never_patterns, self.prev_token.span);
+            PatKind::Never
         } else if self.eat_keyword(kw::Underscore) {
-            // Parse _
+            // Parse `_`
             PatKind::Wild
         } else if self.eat_keyword(kw::Mut) {
             self.parse_pat_ident_mut(syntax_loc)?
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
index f915c1057d6c4..28354ab0986e1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
@@ -286,7 +286,21 @@ impl<'v> hir_visit::Visitor<'v> for StatCollector<'v> {
     fn visit_pat(&mut self, p: &'v hir::Pat<'v>) {
         record_variants!(
             (self, p, p.kind, Id::Node(p.hir_id), hir, Pat, PatKind),
-            [Wild, Binding, Struct, TupleStruct, Or, Path, Tuple, Box, Ref, Lit, Range, Slice]
+            [
+                Wild,
+                Binding,
+                Struct,
+                TupleStruct,
+                Or,
+                Never,
+                Path,
+                Tuple,
+                Box,
+                Ref,
+                Lit,
+                Range,
+                Slice
+            ]
         );
         hir_visit::walk_pat(self, p)
     }
@@ -554,6 +568,7 @@ impl<'v> ast_visit::Visitor<'v> for StatCollector<'v> {
                 Range,
                 Slice,
                 Rest,
+                Never,
                 Paren,
                 MacCall
             ]
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_span/src/symbol.rs b/compiler/rustc_span/src/symbol.rs
index 40b0387424221..9a2fe01229ddb 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_span/src/symbol.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_span/src/symbol.rs
@@ -1097,6 +1097,7 @@ symbols! {
         negative_impls,
         neon,
         never,
+        never_patterns,
         never_type,
         never_type_fallback,
         new,
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/clean/utils.rs b/src/librustdoc/clean/utils.rs
index c22ad43e04994..82f4a38384dd1 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/clean/utils.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/clean/utils.rs
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ pub(crate) fn name_from_pat(p: &hir::Pat<'_>) -> Symbol {
     debug!("trying to get a name from pattern: {p:?}");
 
     Symbol::intern(&match p.kind {
-        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Struct(..) => return kw::Underscore,
+        // FIXME(never_patterns): does this make sense?
+        PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Never | PatKind::Struct(..) => return kw::Underscore,
         PatKind::Binding(_, _, ident, _) => return ident.name,
         PatKind::TupleStruct(ref p, ..) | PatKind::Path(ref p) => qpath_to_string(p),
         PatKind::Or(pats) => {
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/equatable_if_let.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/equatable_if_let.rs
index 575fead5bf3e4..630df9a84f582 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/equatable_if_let.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/equatable_if_let.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn unary_pattern(pat: &Pat<'_>) -> bool {
         pats.iter().all(unary_pattern)
     }
     match &pat.kind {
-        PatKind::Slice(_, _, _) | PatKind::Range(_, _, _) | PatKind::Binding(..) | PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Or(_) => {
+        PatKind::Slice(_, _, _) | PatKind::Range(_, _, _) | PatKind::Binding(..) | PatKind::Wild | PatKind::Never | PatKind::Or(_) => {
             false
         },
         PatKind::Struct(_, a, etc) => !etc && a.iter().all(|x| unary_pattern(x.pat)),
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/matches/match_same_arms.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/matches/match_same_arms.rs
index 745be671b86d7..cbf478620ec33 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/matches/match_same_arms.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/matches/match_same_arms.rs
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ pub(super) fn check<'tcx>(cx: &LateContext<'tcx>, arms: &'tcx [Arm<'_>]) {
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
 enum NormalizedPat<'a> {
     Wild,
+    Never,
     Struct(Option<DefId>, &'a [(Symbol, Self)]),
     Tuple(Option<DefId>, &'a [Self]),
     Or(&'a [Self]),
@@ -229,6 +230,7 @@ impl<'a> NormalizedPat<'a> {
             PatKind::Binding(.., Some(pat)) | PatKind::Box(pat) | PatKind::Ref(pat, _) => {
                 Self::from_pat(cx, arena, pat)
             },
+            PatKind::Never => Self::Never,
             PatKind::Struct(ref path, fields, _) => {
                 let fields =
                     arena.alloc_from_iter(fields.iter().map(|f| (f.ident.name, Self::from_pat(cx, arena, f.pat))));
@@ -333,6 +335,7 @@ impl<'a> NormalizedPat<'a> {
     fn has_overlapping_values(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
         match (*self, *other) {
             (Self::Wild, _) | (_, Self::Wild) => true,
+            (Self::Never, Self::Never) => true,
             (Self::Or(pats), ref other) | (ref other, Self::Or(pats)) => {
                 pats.iter().any(|pat| pat.has_overlapping_values(other))
             },
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/unnested_or_patterns.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/unnested_or_patterns.rs
index 8ff088a208f21..952c0dc72b19b 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/unnested_or_patterns.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/unnested_or_patterns.rs
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ fn transform_with_focus_on_idx(alternatives: &mut ThinVec<P<Pat>>, focus_idx: us
         // Therefore they are not some form of constructor `C`,
         // with which a pattern `C(p_0)` may be formed,
         // which we would want to join with other `C(p_j)`s.
-        Ident(.., None) | Lit(_) | Wild | Path(..) | Range(..) | Rest | MacCall(_)
+        Ident(.., None) | Lit(_) | Wild | Never | Path(..) | Range(..) | Rest | MacCall(_)
         // Skip immutable refs, as grouping them saves few characters,
         // and almost always requires adding parens (increasing noisiness).
         // In the case of only two patterns, replacement adds net characters.
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/utils/author.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/utils/author.rs
index e8842ce10f8aa..e83c04eda2077 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/utils/author.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_lints/src/utils/author.rs
@@ -629,6 +629,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> PrintVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         match pat.value.kind {
             PatKind::Wild => kind!("Wild"),
+            PatKind::Never => kind!("Never"),
             PatKind::Binding(ann, _, name, sub) => {
                 bind!(self, name);
                 opt_bind!(self, sub);
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/hir_utils.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/hir_utils.rs
index 8031e6faa7458..34ec83709ffd5 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/hir_utils.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/hir_utils.rs
@@ -1017,6 +1017,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> SpanlessHash<'a, 'tcx> {
                 }
                 e.hash(&mut self.s);
             },
+            PatKind::Never => {},
             PatKind::Wild => {},
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
index 172b063df3159..fd37713fc6055 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -1707,6 +1707,7 @@ pub fn is_refutable(cx: &LateContext<'_>, pat: &Pat<'_>) -> bool {
 
     match pat.kind {
         PatKind::Wild => false,
+        PatKind::Never => false, // If `!` typechecked then the type is empty, so not refutable.
         PatKind::Binding(_, _, _, pat) => pat.map_or(false, |pat| is_refutable(cx, pat)),
         PatKind::Box(pat) | PatKind::Ref(pat, _) => is_refutable(cx, pat),
         PatKind::Lit(..) | PatKind::Range(..) => true,
diff --git a/src/tools/rustfmt/src/patterns.rs b/src/tools/rustfmt/src/patterns.rs
index 33f3b4b8a21a5..8504999b8ff51 100644
--- a/src/tools/rustfmt/src/patterns.rs
+++ b/src/tools/rustfmt/src/patterns.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ pub(crate) fn is_short_pattern(pat: &ast::Pat, pat_str: &str) -> bool {
 
 fn is_short_pattern_inner(pat: &ast::Pat) -> bool {
     match pat.kind {
-        ast::PatKind::Rest | ast::PatKind::Wild | ast::PatKind::Lit(_) => true,
+        ast::PatKind::Rest | ast::PatKind::Never | ast::PatKind::Wild | ast::PatKind::Lit(_) => {
+            true
+        }
         ast::PatKind::Ident(_, _, ref pat) => pat.is_none(),
         ast::PatKind::Struct(..)
         | ast::PatKind::MacCall(..)
@@ -193,6 +195,7 @@ impl Rewrite for Pat {
                     None
                 }
             }
+            PatKind::Never => None,
             PatKind::Range(ref lhs, ref rhs, ref end_kind) => {
                 let infix = match end_kind.node {
                     RangeEnd::Included(RangeSyntax::DotDotDot) => "...",
diff --git a/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs b/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..69e9f62abf054
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Check that never patterns require the feature gate.
+use std::ptr::NonNull;
+
+enum Void {}
+
+fn main() {
+    let res: Result<u32, Void> = Ok(0);
+    let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = res.as_ref();
+    //~^ ERROR `!` patterns are experimental
+    //~| ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+
+    unsafe {
+        let ptr: *const Void = NonNull::dangling().as_ptr();
+        match *ptr {
+            ! => {} //~ ERROR `!` patterns are experimental
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Check that the gate operates even behind `cfg`.
+    #[cfg(FALSE)]
+    unsafe {
+        let ptr: *const Void = NonNull::dangling().as_ptr();
+        match *ptr {
+            ! => {} //~ ERROR `!` patterns are experimental
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.stderr b/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b7290eeb36dfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/feature-gates/feature-gate-never_patterns.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+error[E0408]: variable `_x` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs:8:19
+   |
+LL |     let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = res.as_ref();
+   |             --    ^^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_x`
+   |             |
+   |             variable not in all patterns
+
+error[E0658]: `!` patterns are experimental
+  --> $DIR/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs:8:24
+   |
+LL |     let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = res.as_ref();
+   |                        ^
+   |
+   = note: see issue #118155 <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/118155> for more information
+   = help: add `#![feature(never_patterns)]` to the crate attributes to enable
+
+error[E0658]: `!` patterns are experimental
+  --> $DIR/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs:15:13
+   |
+LL |             ! => {}
+   |             ^
+   |
+   = note: see issue #118155 <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/118155> for more information
+   = help: add `#![feature(never_patterns)]` to the crate attributes to enable
+
+error[E0658]: `!` patterns are experimental
+  --> $DIR/feature-gate-never_patterns.rs:24:13
+   |
+LL |             ! => {}
+   |             ^
+   |
+   = note: see issue #118155 <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/118155> for more information
+   = help: add `#![feature(never_patterns)]` to the crate attributes to enable
+
+error: aborting due to 4 previous errors
+
+Some errors have detailed explanations: E0408, E0658.
+For more information about an error, try `rustc --explain E0408`.
diff --git a/tests/ui/macros/stringify.rs b/tests/ui/macros/stringify.rs
index 70ca00285c49d..c0eb7f01fdbf0 100644
--- a/tests/ui/macros/stringify.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/macros/stringify.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #![feature(decl_macro)]
 #![feature(explicit_tail_calls)]
 #![feature(more_qualified_paths)]
+#![feature(never_patterns)]
 #![feature(raw_ref_op)]
 #![feature(trait_alias)]
 #![feature(try_blocks)]
@@ -635,6 +636,10 @@ fn test_pat() {
     // PatKind::Rest
     c1!(pat, [ .. ], "..");
 
+    // PatKind::Never
+    c1!(pat, [ Some(!) ], "Some(!)");
+    c1!(pat, [ None | Some(!) ], "None | Some(!)");
+
     // PatKind::Paren
     c1!(pat, [ (pat) ], "(pat)");
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.rs b/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e2e17e0e9a74e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#![feature(never_patterns)]
+#![allow(incomplete_features)]
+
+enum Void {}
+
+fn main() {}
+
+// The classic use for empty types.
+fn safe_unwrap_result<T>(res: Result<T, Void>) {
+    let Ok(_x) = res;
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): These should be allowed
+    let (Ok(_x) | Err(!)) = &res;
+    //~^ ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+    let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = res.as_ref();
+    //~^ ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+}
+
+// Check we only accept `!` where we want to.
+fn never_pattern_location(void: Void) {
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): Don't accept on a non-empty type.
+    match Some(0) {
+        None => {}
+        Some(!) => {}
+    }
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): Don't accept on an arbitrary type, even if there are no more branches.
+    match () {
+        () => {}
+        ! => {}
+    }
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): Don't accept even on an empty branch.
+    match None::<Void> {
+        None => {}
+        ! => {}
+    }
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): Let alone if the emptiness is behind a reference.
+    match None::<&Void> {
+        None => {}
+        ! => {}
+    }
+    // Participate in match ergonomics.
+    match &void {
+        ! => {}
+    }
+    match &&void {
+        ! => {}
+    }
+    match &&void {
+        &! => {}
+    }
+    match &None::<Void> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(!) => {}
+    }
+    match None::<&Void> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(!) => {}
+    }
+    // Accept on a composite empty type.
+    match None::<&(u32, Void)> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(&!) => {}
+    }
+    // Accept on an simple empty type.
+    match None::<Void> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(!) => {}
+    }
+    match None::<&Void> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(&!) => {}
+    }
+    match None::<&(u32, Void)> {
+        None => {}
+        Some(&(_, !)) => {}
+    }
+}
+
+fn never_and_bindings() {
+    let x: Result<bool, &(u32, Void)> = Ok(false);
+
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): Never patterns in or-patterns don't need to share the same bindings.
+    match x {
+        Ok(_x) | Err(&!) => {}
+        //~^ ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+    }
+    let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = x;
+        //~^ ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+
+    // FIXME(never_patterns): A never pattern mustn't have bindings.
+    match x {
+        Ok(_) => {}
+        Err(&(_b, !)) => {}
+    }
+    match x {
+        Ok(_a) | Err(&(_b, !)) => {}
+        //~^ ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+        //~| ERROR: is not bound in all patterns
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.stderr b/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..11e50debfd39a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/pattern/never_patterns.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+error[E0408]: variable `_x` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:12:19
+   |
+LL |     let (Ok(_x) | Err(!)) = &res;
+   |             --    ^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_x`
+   |             |
+   |             variable not in all patterns
+
+error[E0408]: variable `_x` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:14:19
+   |
+LL |     let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = res.as_ref();
+   |             --    ^^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_x`
+   |             |
+   |             variable not in all patterns
+
+error[E0408]: variable `_x` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:83:18
+   |
+LL |         Ok(_x) | Err(&!) => {}
+   |            --    ^^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_x`
+   |            |
+   |            variable not in all patterns
+
+error[E0408]: variable `_x` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:86:19
+   |
+LL |     let (Ok(_x) | Err(&!)) = x;
+   |             --    ^^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_x`
+   |             |
+   |             variable not in all patterns
+
+error[E0408]: variable `_b` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:95:9
+   |
+LL |         Ok(_a) | Err(&(_b, !)) => {}
+   |         ^^^^^^         -- variable not in all patterns
+   |         |
+   |         pattern doesn't bind `_b`
+
+error[E0408]: variable `_a` is not bound in all patterns
+  --> $DIR/never_patterns.rs:95:18
+   |
+LL |         Ok(_a) | Err(&(_b, !)) => {}
+   |            --    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ pattern doesn't bind `_a`
+   |            |
+   |            variable not in all patterns
+
+error: aborting due to 6 previous errors
+
+For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0408`.