diff --git a/src/material/core/option/option.ts b/src/material/core/option/option.ts
index d9a455f9bc26..56238bba5a9a 100644
--- a/src/material/core/option/option.ts
+++ b/src/material/core/option/option.ts
@@ -204,11 +204,6 @@ export class _MatOptionBase<T = any> implements FocusableOption, AfterViewChecke
     }
   }
 
-  /** Returns the correct tabindex for the option depending on disabled state. */
-  _getTabIndex(): string {
-    return this.disabled ? '-1' : '0';
-  }
-
   /** Gets the host DOM element. */
   _getHostElement(): HTMLElement {
     return this._element.nativeElement;
@@ -251,7 +246,6 @@ export class _MatOptionBase<T = any> implements FocusableOption, AfterViewChecke
   exportAs: 'matOption',
   host: {
     'role': 'option',
-    '[attr.tabindex]': '_getTabIndex()',
     '[class.mdc-list-item--selected]': 'selected',
     '[class.mat-mdc-option-multiple]': 'multiple',
     '[class.mat-mdc-option-active]': 'active',
diff --git a/src/material/legacy-core/option/option.ts b/src/material/legacy-core/option/option.ts
index c2ab6d03f9f9..6fc3b0ea22f5 100644
--- a/src/material/legacy-core/option/option.ts
+++ b/src/material/legacy-core/option/option.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import {MatLegacyOptgroup} from './optgroup';
   exportAs: 'matOption',
   host: {
     'role': 'option',
-    '[attr.tabindex]': '_getTabIndex()',
     '[class.mat-selected]': 'selected',
     '[class.mat-option-multiple]': 'multiple',
     '[class.mat-active]': 'active',
diff --git a/src/material/legacy-select/select.spec.ts b/src/material/legacy-select/select.spec.ts
index 68d9625ea80b..3b08cd03c975 100644
--- a/src/material/legacy-select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/legacy-select/select.spec.ts
@@ -790,17 +790,27 @@ describe('MatSelect', () => {
               'mat-option',
             ) as NodeListOf<HTMLElement>;
 
-            options[3].focus();
+            select.focus();
+            multiFixture.detectChanges();
+            multiFixture.componentInstance.select._keyManager.setActiveItem(3);
+            multiFixture.detectChanges();
+
             expect(document.activeElement)
-              .withContext('Expected fourth option to be focused.')
-              .toBe(options[3]);
+              .withContext('Expected select to have DOM focus.')
+              .toBe(select);
+            expect(select.getAttribute('aria-activedescendant'))
+              .withContext('Expected fourth option to be activated.')
+              .toBe(options[3].id);
 
             multiFixture.componentInstance.control.setValue(['steak-0', 'sushi-7']);
             multiFixture.detectChanges();
 
             expect(document.activeElement)
-              .withContext('Expected fourth option to remain focused.')
-              .toBe(options[3]);
+              .withContext('Expected select to have DOM focus.')
+              .toBe(select);
+            expect(select.getAttribute('aria-activedescendant'))
+              .withContext('Expected fourth optino to remain activated.')
+              .toBe(options[3].id);
           }),
         );
 
@@ -1223,10 +1233,10 @@ describe('MatSelect', () => {
             .toBe(true);
         }));
 
-        it('should set the tabindex of each option according to disabled state', fakeAsync(() => {
-          expect(options[0].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('0');
-          expect(options[1].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('0');
-          expect(options[2].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('-1');
+        it('should omit the tabindex attribute on each option', fakeAsync(() => {
+          expect(options[0].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
+          expect(options[1].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
+          expect(options[2].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
         }));
 
         it('should set aria-disabled for disabled options', fakeAsync(() => {
diff --git a/src/material/select/select.spec.ts b/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
index 9eb724ebe315..d47d8dda7ee9 100644
--- a/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
@@ -824,17 +824,27 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelect', () => {
               'mat-option',
             ) as NodeListOf<HTMLElement>;
 
-            options[3].focus();
+            select.focus();
+            multiFixture.detectChanges();
+            multiFixture.componentInstance.select._keyManager.setActiveItem(3);
+            multiFixture.detectChanges();
+
             expect(document.activeElement)
-              .withContext('Expected fourth option to be focused.')
-              .toBe(options[3]);
+              .withContext('Expected select to have DOM focus.')
+              .toBe(select);
+            expect(select.getAttribute('aria-activedescendant'))
+              .withContext('Expected fourth option to be activated.')
+              .toBe(options[3].id);
 
             multiFixture.componentInstance.control.setValue(['steak-0', 'sushi-7']);
             multiFixture.detectChanges();
 
             expect(document.activeElement)
-              .withContext('Expected fourth option to remain focused.')
-              .toBe(options[3]);
+              .withContext('Expected select to have DOM focus.')
+              .toBe(select);
+            expect(select.getAttribute('aria-activedescendant'))
+              .withContext('Expected fourth optino to remain activated.')
+              .toBe(options[3].id);
           }),
         );
 
@@ -1260,10 +1270,10 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelect', () => {
             .toBe(true);
         }));
 
-        it('should set the tabindex of each option according to disabled state', fakeAsync(() => {
-          expect(options[0].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('0');
-          expect(options[1].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('0');
-          expect(options[2].getAttribute('tabindex')).toEqual('-1');
+        it('should omit the tabindex attribute on each option', fakeAsync(() => {
+          expect(options[0].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
+          expect(options[1].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
+          expect(options[2].hasAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalse();
         }));
 
         it('should set aria-disabled for disabled options', fakeAsync(() => {
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/core.md b/tools/public_api_guard/material/core.md
index d65db4fd6a82..da21c8c32b83 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/core.md
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/core.md
@@ -281,7 +281,6 @@ export class _MatOptionBase<T = any> implements FocusableOption, AfterViewChecke
     focus(_origin?: FocusOrigin, options?: FocusOptions): void;
     _getHostElement(): HTMLElement;
     getLabel(): string;
-    _getTabIndex(): string;
     // (undocumented)
     readonly group: _MatOptgroupBase;
     _handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void;