diff --git a/lib/puppet/parser/functions/private.rb b/lib/puppet/parser/functions/private.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 037d2b2a8..000000000
--- a/lib/puppet/parser/functions/private.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-# frozen_string_literal: true
-
-#
-# private.rb
-#
-module Puppet::Parser::Functions
-  newfunction(:private, doc: <<-'DOC'
-   @summary
-    **Deprecated:** Sets the current class or definition as private.
-    Calling the class or definition from outside the current module will fail.
-
-   @return
-      Sets the current class or definition as private
-  DOC
-  ) do |args|
-    warning("private() DEPRECATED: This function will cease to function on Puppet 4; please use assert_private() before upgrading to puppet 4 for backwards-compatibility, or migrate to the new parser's typing system.") # rubocop:disable Layout/LineLength : Cannot shorten this line
-    unless Puppet::Parser::Functions.autoloader.loaded?(:assert_private)
-      Puppet::Parser::Functions.autoloader.load(:assert_private)
-    end
-    function_assert_private([(args[0] unless args.empty?)])
-  end
-end
diff --git a/spec/functions/private_spec.rb b/spec/functions/private_spec.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index e0f266701..000000000
--- a/spec/functions/private_spec.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
-# frozen_string_literal: true
-
-require 'spec_helper'
-
-describe 'private' do
-  it 'issues a warning' do
-    expect(scope).to receive(:warning).with("private() DEPRECATED: This function will cease to function on Puppet 4; please use assert_private() before upgrading to puppet 4 for backwards-compatibility, or migrate to the new parser's typing system.") # rubocop:disable Layout/LineLength : unable to cut line to required length
-    begin
-      subject.execute
-    rescue
-      # ignore this
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'when called from inside module' do
-    it 'does not fail' do
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('module_name').and_return('foo')
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('caller_module_name').and_return('foo')
-      expect {
-        subject.execute
-      }.not_to raise_error
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'with an explicit failure message' do
-    it 'prints the failure message on error' do
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('module_name').and_return('foo')
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('caller_module_name').and_return('bar')
-      expect {
-        subject.execute('failure message!')
-      }.to raise_error(Puppet::ParseError, %r{failure message!})
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'when called from private class' do
-    it 'fails with a class error message' do
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('module_name').and_return('foo')
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('caller_module_name').and_return('bar')
-      expect(scope.source).to receive(:name).and_return('foo::baz')
-      expect(scope.source).to receive(:type).and_return('hostclass')
-      expect { subject.execute }.to raise_error(Puppet::ParseError, %r{Class foo::baz is private})
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'when called from private definition' do
-    it 'fails with a class error message' do
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('module_name').and_return('foo')
-      expect(scope).to receive(:lookupvar).with('caller_module_name').and_return('bar')
-      expect(scope.source).to receive(:name).and_return('foo::baz')
-      expect(scope.source).to receive(:type).and_return('definition')
-      expect { subject.execute }.to raise_error(Puppet::ParseError, %r{Definition foo::baz is private})
-    end
-  end
-end