diff --git a/Help/policy/CMP0059.rst b/Help/policy/CMP0059.rst
index 4ac286d2f5..3dfc81b9ee 100644
--- a/Help/policy/CMP0059.rst
+++ b/Help/policy/CMP0059.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 CMP0059
 -------
 
+.. |REMOVED_IN_CMAKE_VERSION| replace:: 4.0
+.. include:: REMOVED_PROLOGUE.txt
+
 .. versionadded:: 3.3
 
 Do not treat ``DEFINITIONS`` as a built-in directory property.
@@ -14,7 +17,5 @@ so far to the :command:`add_definitions` command.  The ``NEW`` behavior is
 to behave as a normal user-defined directory property.
 
 .. |INTRODUCED_IN_CMAKE_VERSION| replace:: 3.3
-.. |WARNS_OR_DOES_NOT_WARN| replace:: warns
-.. include:: STANDARD_ADVICE.txt
-
-.. include:: DEPRECATED.txt
+.. |WARNED_OR_DID_NOT_WARN| replace:: warned
+.. include:: REMOVED_EPILOGUE.txt
diff --git a/Source/cmGetDirectoryPropertyCommand.cxx b/Source/cmGetDirectoryPropertyCommand.cxx
index d05f1c6268..122eb168c3 100644
--- a/Source/cmGetDirectoryPropertyCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGetDirectoryPropertyCommand.cxx
@@ -5,14 +5,10 @@
 #include "cmExecutionStatus.h"
 #include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
-#include "cmMessageType.h"
-#include "cmPolicies.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmValue.h"
 
 namespace {
-void StoreResult(cmMakefile& makefile, std::string const& variable,
-                 const char* prop);
 void StoreResult(cmMakefile& makefile, std::string const& variable,
                  cmValue prop);
 }
@@ -78,31 +74,11 @@ bool cmGetDirectoryPropertyCommand(std::vector<std::string> const& args,
     return false;
   }
 
-  if (*i == "DEFINITIONS") {
-    switch (status.GetMakefile().GetPolicyStatus(cmPolicies::CMP0059)) {
-      case cmPolicies::WARN:
-        status.GetMakefile().IssueMessage(
-          MessageType::AUTHOR_WARNING,
-          cmPolicies::GetPolicyWarning(cmPolicies::CMP0059));
-        CM_FALLTHROUGH;
-      case cmPolicies::OLD:
-        StoreResult(status.GetMakefile(), variable,
-                    status.GetMakefile().GetDefineFlagsCMP0059());
-        return true;
-      case cmPolicies::NEW:
-        break;
-    }
-  }
   StoreResult(status.GetMakefile(), variable, dir->GetProperty(*i));
   return true;
 }
 
 namespace {
-void StoreResult(cmMakefile& makefile, std::string const& variable,
-                 const char* prop)
-{
-  makefile.AddDefinition(variable, prop ? prop : "");
-}
 void StoreResult(cmMakefile& makefile, std::string const& variable,
                  cmValue prop)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmGetPropertyCommand.cxx b/Source/cmGetPropertyCommand.cxx
index 96373494be..0a0df88ce3 100644
--- a/Source/cmGetPropertyCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGetPropertyCommand.cxx
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmInstalledFile.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
-#include "cmMessageType.h"
 #include "cmPolicies.h"
 #include "cmProperty.h"
 #include "cmPropertyDefinition.h"
@@ -370,20 +369,6 @@ bool HandleDirectoryMode(cmExecutionStatus& status, const std::string& name,
     }
   }
 
-  if (propertyName == "DEFINITIONS") {
-    switch (mf->GetPolicyStatus(cmPolicies::CMP0059)) {
-      case cmPolicies::WARN:
-        mf->IssueMessage(MessageType::AUTHOR_WARNING,
-                         cmPolicies::GetPolicyWarning(cmPolicies::CMP0059));
-        CM_FALLTHROUGH;
-      case cmPolicies::OLD:
-        return StoreResult(infoType, status.GetMakefile(), variable,
-                           mf->GetDefineFlagsCMP0059());
-      case cmPolicies::NEW:
-        break;
-    }
-  }
-
   // Get the property.
   return StoreResult(infoType, status.GetMakefile(), variable,
                      mf->GetProperty(propertyName));
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 8e16f17f9d..630777933f 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -1245,9 +1245,6 @@ void cmMakefile::AddDefineFlag(std::string const& flag)
     return;
   }
 
-  // Update the string used for the old DEFINITIONS property.
-  s_AddDefineFlag(flag, this->DefineFlagsOrig);
-
   // If this is really a definition, update COMPILE_DEFINITIONS.
   if (this->ParseDefineFlag(flag, false)) {
     return;
@@ -1281,9 +1278,6 @@ void cmMakefile::RemoveDefineFlag(std::string const& flag)
     return;
   }
 
-  // Update the string used for the old DEFINITIONS property.
-  s_RemoveDefineFlag(flag, this->DefineFlagsOrig);
-
   // If this is really a definition, update COMPILE_DEFINITIONS.
   if (this->ParseDefineFlag(flag, true)) {
     return;
@@ -1357,7 +1351,6 @@ void cmMakefile::InitializeFromParent(cmMakefile* parent)
 
   // define flags
   this->DefineFlags = parent->DefineFlags;
-  this->DefineFlagsOrig = parent->DefineFlagsOrig;
 
   // Include transform property.  There is no per-config version.
   {
@@ -3977,11 +3970,6 @@ cmStateSnapshot cmMakefile::GetStateSnapshot() const
   return this->StateSnapshot;
 }
 
-const char* cmMakefile::GetDefineFlagsCMP0059() const
-{
-  return this->DefineFlagsOrig.c_str();
-}
-
 cmPolicies::PolicyStatus cmMakefile::GetPolicyStatus(cmPolicies::PolicyID id,
                                                      bool parent_scope) const
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index 199995b9cd..74f988e8a1 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -1006,8 +1006,6 @@ public:
 
   cmStateSnapshot GetStateSnapshot() const;
 
-  const char* GetDefineFlagsCMP0059() const;
-
   void EnforceDirectoryLevelRules() const;
 
   void AddEvaluationFile(
@@ -1134,9 +1132,6 @@ protected:
   std::string ComplainFileRegularExpression;
   std::string DefineFlags;
 
-  // Track the value of the computed DEFINITIONS property.
-  std::string DefineFlagsOrig;
-
 #if !defined(CMAKE_BOOTSTRAP)
   std::vector<cmSourceGroup> SourceGroups;
   size_t ObjectLibrariesSourceGroupIndex;
diff --git a/Source/cmPolicies.h b/Source/cmPolicies.h
index 03b6f81c75..041d67c17a 100644
--- a/Source/cmPolicies.h
+++ b/Source/cmPolicies.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class cmMakefile;
          NEW)                                                                 \
   SELECT(POLICY, CMP0059,                                                     \
          "Do not treat DEFINITIONS as a built-in directory property.", 3, 3,  \
-         0, WARN)                                                             \
+         0, NEW)                                                              \
   SELECT(POLICY, CMP0060,                                                     \
          "Link libraries by full path even in implicit directories.", 3, 3,   \
          0, WARN)                                                             \
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW-result.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW-result.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 573541ac97..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW-result.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-0
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW.cmake b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW.cmake
index f7b9303cd4..0dde53692c 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW.cmake
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-NEW.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-
-cmake_policy(SET CMP0059 NEW)
-
 add_definitions(-DSOME_DEF)
 
 get_property(defs DIRECTORY .
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-result.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-result.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 573541ac97..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-result.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-0
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-stderr.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index e35e8c5f1b..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD-stderr.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-DEFS: -DSOME_DEF
-CUSTOM CONTENT: -DSOME_DEF
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD.cmake b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 25557744d4..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-OLD.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-
-cmake_policy(SET CMP0059 OLD)
-
-add_definitions(-DSOME_DEF)
-
-get_property(defs DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS
-)
-message("DEFS:${defs}")
-
-set_property(DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS CUSTOM_CONTENT
-)
-get_property(content DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS
-)
-message("CUSTOM CONTENT:${content}")
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-result.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-result.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 573541ac97..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-result.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-0
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-stderr.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 06c7be3120..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN-stderr.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-CMake Warning \(dev\) at CMP0059-WARN.cmake:6 \(get_property\):
-  Policy CMP0059 is not set: Do not treat DEFINITIONS as a built-in directory
-  property.  Run "cmake --help-policy CMP0059" for policy details.  Use the
-  cmake_policy command to set the policy and suppress this warning.
-Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
-  CMakeLists.txt:3 \(include\)
-This warning is for project developers.  Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.
-
-DEFS: -DSOME_DEF
-CMake Warning \(dev\) at CMP0059-WARN.cmake:14 \(get_property\):
-  Policy CMP0059 is not set: Do not treat DEFINITIONS as a built-in directory
-  property.  Run "cmake --help-policy CMP0059" for policy details.  Use the
-  cmake_policy command to set the policy and suppress this warning.
-Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
-  CMakeLists.txt:3 \(include\)
-This warning is for project developers.  Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.
-
-CUSTOM CONTENT: -DSOME_DEF
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN.cmake b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 9d0b49c8e2..0000000000
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMP0059-WARN.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-
-
-
-add_definitions(-DSOME_DEF)
-
-get_property(defs DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS
-)
-message("DEFS:${defs}")
-
-set_property(DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS CUSTOM_CONTENT
-)
-get_property(content DIRECTORY .
-  PROPERTY DEFINITIONS
-)
-message("CUSTOM CONTENT:${content}")
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMakeLists.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMakeLists.txt
index ef2163c298..bf2ef1506e 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.1)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
 project(${RunCMake_TEST} NONE)
 include(${RunCMake_TEST}.cmake)
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/RunCMakeTest.cmake b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/RunCMakeTest.cmake
index 9b5757954c..b95bb0f943 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/RunCMakeTest.cmake
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CMP0059/RunCMakeTest.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
 include(RunCMake)
 
-run_cmake(CMP0059-OLD)
 run_cmake(CMP0059-NEW)
-run_cmake(CMP0059-WARN)