diff --git a/Compiler/src/ssair/ir.jl b/Compiler/src/ssair/ir.jl
index 743e26cb230bb..db819ec9ae67b 100644
--- a/Compiler/src/ssair/ir.jl
+++ b/Compiler/src/ssair/ir.jl
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ function is_relevant_expr(e::Expr)
                       :gc_preserve_begin, :gc_preserve_end,
                       :foreigncall, :isdefined, :copyast,
                       :throw_undef_if_not,
-                      :cfunction, :method, :pop_exception,
+                      :cfunction, :pop_exception,
                       :leave,
                       :new_opaque_closure)
 end
diff --git a/Compiler/src/ssair/verify.jl b/Compiler/src/ssair/verify.jl
index e190ae7a8438f..07771437a1234 100644
--- a/Compiler/src/ssair/verify.jl
+++ b/Compiler/src/ssair/verify.jl
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ if !isdefined(@__MODULE__, Symbol("@verify_error"))
     end
 end
 
-is_toplevel_expr_head(head::Symbol) = head === :method || head === :thunk
+is_toplevel_expr_head(head::Symbol) = head === :thunk
 is_value_pos_expr_head(head::Symbol) = head === :static_parameter
 function check_op(ir::IRCode, domtree::DomTree, @nospecialize(op), use_bb::Int, use_idx::Int, printed_use_idx::Int, print::Bool, isforeigncall::Bool, arg_idx::Int,
     allow_frontend_forms::Bool, @nospecialize(raise_error))
diff --git a/Compiler/src/validation.jl b/Compiler/src/validation.jl
index 3fce8da4e6dd0..e5ce60de689ae 100644
--- a/Compiler/src/validation.jl
+++ b/Compiler/src/validation.jl
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ const VALID_EXPR_HEADS = IdDict{Symbol,UnitRange{Int}}(
     :static_parameter => 1:1,
     :(&) => 1:1,
     :(=) => 2:2,
-    :method => 1:4,
     :new => 1:typemax(Int),
     :splatnew => 2:2,
     :the_exception => 0:0,
@@ -49,7 +48,6 @@ const SLOTFLAGS_MISMATCH = "length(slotnames) < length(slotflags)"
 const SSAVALUETYPES_MISMATCH = "not all SSAValues in AST have a type in ssavaluetypes"
 const SSAVALUETYPES_MISMATCH_UNINFERRED = "uninferred CodeInfo ssavaluetypes field does not equal the number of present SSAValues"
 const SSAFLAGS_MISMATCH = "not all SSAValues have a corresponding `ssaflags`"
-const NON_TOP_LEVEL_METHOD = "encountered `Expr` head `:method` in non-top-level code (i.e. `nargs` > 0)"
 const SIGNATURE_NARGS_MISMATCH = "method signature does not match number of method arguments"
 const SLOTNAMES_NARGS_MISMATCH = "CodeInfo for method contains fewer slotnames than the number of method arguments"
 const INVALID_SIGNATURE_OPAQUE_CLOSURE = "invalid signature of method for opaque closure - `sig` field must always be set to `Tuple`"
@@ -119,9 +117,6 @@ function validate_code!(errors::Vector{InvalidCodeError}, c::CodeInfo, is_top_le
     for x in c.code
         if isa(x, Expr)
             head = x.head
-            if !is_top_level
-                head === :method && push!(errors, InvalidCodeError(NON_TOP_LEVEL_METHOD))
-            end
             narg_bounds = get(VALID_EXPR_HEADS, head, -1:-1)
             nargs = length(x.args)
             if narg_bounds == -1:-1
@@ -145,7 +140,7 @@ function validate_code!(errors::Vector{InvalidCodeError}, c::CodeInfo, is_top_le
                 head === :gc_preserve_end || head === :meta ||
                 head === :inbounds || head === :foreigncall || head === :cfunction ||
                 head === :leave || head === :pop_exception ||
-                head === :method || head === :static_parameter ||
+                head === :static_parameter ||
                 head === :new || head === :splatnew || head === :thunk || head === :loopinfo ||
                 head === :throw_undef_if_not || head === :code_coverage_effect || head === :inline || head === :noinline
                 validate_val!(x)
diff --git a/base/docs/basedocs.jl b/base/docs/basedocs.jl
index c4dcc90baf945..ac53b005d1c00 100644
--- a/base/docs/basedocs.jl
+++ b/base/docs/basedocs.jl
@@ -2816,6 +2816,24 @@ See also [`const`](@ref).
 """
 Core.declare_const
 
+"""
+    define_method(module::Module, name::Symbol)
+    define_method(module::Module, fname_or_mt, argdata, code)
+
+Define a method. The 2-argument form declares a new generic function with the given `name`.
+The 4-argument form defines a method for a function, where `fname_or_mt` is either the function
+or its method table, `argdata` is the signature information, and `code` is the method body.
+
+This function is typically generated by lowering `function` definitions and should not
+be called directly in most cases.
+
+!!! compat "Julia 1.14"
+    This function requires Julia 1.14 or later.
+
+See also [`function`](@ref).
+"""
+Core.define_method
+
 """
    _import(to::Module, from::Module, asname::Symbol, [sym::Symbol, imported::Bool])
 
diff --git a/src/builtin_proto.h b/src/builtin_proto.h
index ff634149a06f6..24dc05f4c5c06 100644
--- a/src/builtin_proto.h
+++ b/src/builtin_proto.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ extern "C" {
     XX(getfield,"getfield") \
     XX(getglobal,"getglobal") \
     XX(declare_global,"declare_global") \
+    XX(define_method,"define_method") \
     XX(ifelse,"ifelse") \
     XX(intrinsic_call,"intrinsic_call") \
     XX(invoke,"invoke") \
diff --git a/src/builtins.c b/src/builtins.c
index b50e6c247ce46..ee98194471c17 100644
--- a/src/builtins.c
+++ b/src/builtins.c
@@ -1547,6 +1547,32 @@ JL_CALLABLE(jl_f_declare_const)
     return nargs > 2 ? args[2] : jl_nothing;
 }
 
+// define_method(module::Module, name::Symbol) - declare generic function
+// define_method(module::Module, fname_or_mt, argdata, code) - define method
+JL_CALLABLE(jl_f_define_method)
+{
+    JL_NARGS(define_method, 2, 4);
+    JL_TYPECHK(define_method, module, args[0]);
+    jl_module_t *module = (jl_module_t *)args[0];
+
+    // Generic function declaration: define_method(module, name)
+    if (nargs == 2) {
+        JL_TYPECHK(define_method, symbol, args[1]);
+        jl_sym_t *fname = (jl_sym_t*)args[1];
+        return jl_declare_const_gf(module, fname);
+    }
+
+    // Method definition: define_method(module, fname_or_mt, argdata, code)
+    jl_value_t *fname = args[1];
+    jl_methtable_t *mt = NULL;
+    if (jl_is_mtable(fname))
+        mt = (jl_methtable_t*)fname;
+    jl_value_t *atypes = args[2];
+    jl_value_t *meth = args[3];
+    jl_method_t *ret = jl_method_def((jl_svec_t*)atypes, mt, (jl_code_info_t*)meth, module);
+    return (jl_value_t *)ret;
+}
+
 // import, using --------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // Import binding `from.sym` as `asname` into `to`:
diff --git a/src/julia-syntax.scm b/src/julia-syntax.scm
index f3a57c6699c08..4b54ff3766986 100644
--- a/src/julia-syntax.scm
+++ b/src/julia-syntax.scm
@@ -5094,7 +5094,8 @@ f(x) = yt(x)
                  (error (string "Global method definition" (linenode-string current-loc)
                                 " needs to be placed at the top level, or use \"eval\".")))
              (if (length> e 2)
-                 (let* ((sig (let ((sig (compile (caddr e) break-labels #t #f)))
+                 (let* ((name (cadr e))
+                        (sig (let ((sig (compile (caddr e) break-labels #t #f)))
                                (if (valid-ir-argument? sig)
                                    sig
                                    (let ((l (make-ssavalue)))
@@ -5107,12 +5108,34 @@ f(x) = yt(x)
                                    (emit `(= ,l ,(compile lam break-labels #t #f)))
                                    l))))
                    (let ((val (make-ssavalue)))
-                    (emit `(= ,val (method ,(or (cadr e) '(false)) ,sig ,lam)))
+                    (emit `(= ,val ,(cond ((not name)
+                                           `(call (core define_method) (thismodule) (false) ,sig ,lam))
+                                          ((globalref? name)
+                                           `(call (core define_method) ,(cadr name) (inert ,(caddr name)) ,sig ,lam))
+                                          ((symbol? name)
+                                           `(call (core define_method) (thismodule) (inert ,name) ,sig ,lam))
+                                          (else
+                                           `(call (core define_method) (thismodule) ,name ,sig ,lam)))))
+                    (if (null? (cadr lam)) (emit `(latestworld)))
                     (if tail (emit-return tail val))
                     val))
-                 (cond (tail  (emit-return tail e))
-                       (value e)
-                       (else  (emit e)))))
+                 ;; Generic function declaration (short form)
+                 (let ((name (cadr e)))
+                   (if value
+                       (let ((val (make-ssavalue)))
+                         (emit `(= ,val ,(if (globalref? name)
+                                             `(call (core define_method) ,(cadr name) (inert ,(caddr name)))
+                                             `(call (core define_method) (thismodule) (inert ,name)))))
+                         (if (null? (cadr lam)) (emit `(latestworld)))
+                         (if tail (emit-return tail val))
+                         val)
+                       (begin
+                         (emit ,(if (globalref? name)
+                                    `(call (core define_method) ,(cadr name) (inert ,(caddr name)))
+                                    `(call (core define_method) (thismodule) (inert ,name))))
+                         (if (null? (cadr lam)) (emit `(latestworld)))
+                         (if tail (emit-return tail '(null)))
+                         '(null))))))
             ((lambda)
              (let ((temp (linearize e)))
                (cond (tail  (emit-return tail temp))
diff --git a/src/toplevel.c b/src/toplevel.c
index 4622a9e8b4ce0..333c2c3b6b836 100644
--- a/src/toplevel.c
+++ b/src/toplevel.c
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ static void expr_attributes(jl_value_t *v, jl_array_t *body, int *has_ccall, int
         *has_defs = 1;
         return;
     }
-    else if (head == jl_method_sym || jl_is_toplevel_only_expr(v)) {
+    else if (jl_is_toplevel_only_expr(v)) {
         *has_defs = 1;
     }
     else if (head == jl_cfunction_sym) {
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static void expr_attributes(jl_value_t *v, jl_array_t *body, int *has_ccall, int
                 *has_ccall = 1;
             }
             // TODO: rely on latestworld instead of function callee detection here (or add it to jl_is_toplevel_only_expr)
-            if (called == BUILTIN(_typebody) || called == BUILTIN(declare_const)) {
+            if (called == BUILTIN(_typebody) || called == BUILTIN(declare_const) || called == BUILTIN(define_method)) {
                 *has_defs = 1;
             }
         }
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ int jl_needs_lowering(jl_value_t *e) JL_NOTSAFEPOINT
     jl_sym_t *head = ex->head;
     if (head == jl_module_sym || head == jl_export_sym || head == jl_public_sym ||
         head == jl_thunk_sym || head == jl_toplevel_sym || head == jl_error_sym ||
-        head == jl_incomplete_sym || head == jl_method_sym) {
+        head == jl_incomplete_sym) {
         return 0;
     }
     return 1;
diff --git a/stdlib/Serialization/src/Serialization.jl b/stdlib/Serialization/src/Serialization.jl
index ee40ebdd4abad..4fc293dee2ef6 100644
--- a/stdlib/Serialization/src/Serialization.jl
+++ b/stdlib/Serialization/src/Serialization.jl
@@ -1454,6 +1454,46 @@ function deserialize_expr(s::AbstractSerializer, len)
     resolve_ref_immediately(s, e)
     e.head = deserialize(s)::Symbol
     e.args = Any[ deserialize(s) for i = 1:len ]
+
+    # Rewrite old :method expressions to define_method calls
+    if e.head === :method
+        mod = current_module[]
+        if mod === nothing
+            # No current module context, keep the :method expression and hope for the best
+            # This shouldn't happen in practice for deserialization of top-level code
+            return e
+        end
+
+        if len == 1
+            # Short form: (:method name) → (call Core.define_method module (inert name))
+            name = e.args[1]
+            if name isa GlobalRef
+                # Extract module and name from GlobalRef
+                mod_ref = name.mod
+                sym = name.name
+                e = Expr(:call, GlobalRef(Core, :define_method), mod_ref, QuoteNode(sym))
+            else
+                # Simple symbol - use the current module
+                e = Expr(:call, GlobalRef(Core, :define_method), mod, QuoteNode(name))
+            end
+        elseif len == 3
+            # Long form: (:method name_or_mt sigtype code) → (call Core.define_method module name_or_mt sigtype code)
+            name_or_mt = e.args[1]
+            sigtype = e.args[2]
+            code = e.args[3]
+            if name_or_mt isa Symbol
+                name_or_mt = QuoteNode(name_or_mt)
+                e = Expr(:call, GlobalRef(Core, :define_method), mod, name_or_mt, sigtype, code)
+            elseif name_or_mt isa GlobalRef
+                mod_ref = name_or_mt.mod
+                sym = name_or_mt.name
+                e = Expr(:call, GlobalRef(Core, :define_method), mod_ref, QuoteNode(sym), sigtype, code)
+            else
+                # name_or_mt is already something else (like false or a method table)
+                e = Expr(:call, GlobalRef(Core, :define_method), mod, name_or_mt, sigtype, code)
+            end
+        end
+    end
     e
 end
 
diff --git a/test/syntax.jl b/test/syntax.jl
index cec389be057ad..b33afbe7f42a9 100644
--- a/test/syntax.jl
+++ b/test/syntax.jl
@@ -566,8 +566,10 @@ end
 let code = Meta.lower(Main, :(@inline f(p::Int=2) = 3)).args[1].code
     local src
     for i = length(code):-1:1
-        if Meta.isexpr(code[i], :method)
-            src = code[i].args[3]
+        if Meta.isexpr(code[i], :call) && length(code[i].args) >= 5 &&
+           code[i].args[1] isa GlobalRef && code[i].args[1].name == :define_method &&
+           code[i].args[5] isa Core.CodeInfo
+            src = code[i].args[5]
             break
         end
     end
@@ -3988,8 +3990,16 @@ end
     code = src.args[1].code
     for i = length(code):-1:1
         expr = code[i]
-        Meta.isexpr(expr, :method) || continue
-        @test isa(expr.args[1], Union{GlobalRef, Symbol})
+        if Meta.isexpr(expr, :call) && length(expr.args) >= 3 &&
+           expr.args[1] isa GlobalRef && expr.args[1].name == :define_method
+            # args[3] should be a QuoteNode wrapping a Symbol, or a GlobalRef
+            name_arg = expr.args[3]
+            if name_arg isa QuoteNode
+                @test isa(name_arg.value, Symbol)
+            else
+                @test isa(name_arg, GlobalRef)
+            end
+        end
     end
 end
 
@@ -4371,10 +4381,11 @@ module DoubleImport
 end
 @test DoubleImport.Random === Test.Random
 
-# Expr(:method) returns the method
+# define_method call returns the method
 let ex = @Meta.lower function return_my_method(); 1; end
     code = ex.args[1].code
-    idx = findfirst(ex->Meta.isexpr(ex, :method) && length(ex.args) > 1, code)
+    idx = findfirst(ex->Meta.isexpr(ex, :call) && length(ex.args) >= 5 &&
+                       ex.args[1] isa GlobalRef && ex.args[1].name == :define_method, code)
     code[end] = Core.ReturnNode(Core.SSAValue(idx))
     @test isa(Core.eval(@__MODULE__, ex), Method)
 end