diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/messageformat2_formattable.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/messageformat2_formattable.h
index f5a5e5ca25e5..87dd00a2caf5 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/messageformat2_formattable.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/messageformat2_formattable.h
@@ -869,7 +869,6 @@ class U_I18N_API FunctionOptions : public UObject {
         UnicodeString fallback;
         Formattable source;
         FormattedValue formatted;
-        void initOptions(UErrorCode&);
         FunctionOptions previousOptions; // Ignored unless type is kEvaluated
         Origin origin;
     }; // class FormattedPlaceholder