diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index fa47a56ee..83d77dec4 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ S3method(format_type_sum,default)
 S3method(glimpse,data.frame)
 S3method(glimpse,default)
 S3method(glimpse,tbl)
-S3method(is_vector_s3,default)
 S3method(obj_print_data,pillar_vctr)
 S3method(obj_print_footer,pillar_vctr)
 S3method(obj_print_header,pillar_vctr)
diff --git a/R/deprecated.R b/R/deprecated.R
index 1ade2cdaf..7cc5fa794 100644
--- a/R/deprecated.R
+++ b/R/deprecated.R
@@ -5,25 +5,15 @@ NULL
 
 #' is_vector_s3()
 #'
-#' `is_vector_s3()` returns `TRUE` if an object represents an S3 vector.
-#' The default implementation forwards to [vctrs::vec_is()].
+#' `is_vector_s3()` forwards to [vctrs::vec_is()].
 #'
 #' @section Lifecycle:
-#' `is_vector_s3()` is soft-deprecated, because [vctrs::vec_is()]
-#' provides the same functionality based on a robust framework.
-#' The generic will remain available for a while but is no longer used.
-#' Users and implementers are encouraged to ensure that `vctrs::vec_is()`
-#' is `TRUE` for their class.
+#' `is_vector_s3()` is soft-deprecated and no longer generic,
+#'  use [vctrs::vec_is()] instead.
 #'
 #' @export
 #' @rdname deprecated
 is_vector_s3 <- function(x) {
   deprecate_soft("1.4.4", "pillar::is_vector_s3()", "vctrs::vec_is()")
-
-  UseMethod("is_vector_s3")
-}
-
-#' @export
-is_vector_s3.default <- function(x) {
   vec_is(x)
 }
diff --git a/man/deprecated.Rd b/man/deprecated.Rd
index 381cf2eb5..624f94b14 100644
--- a/man/deprecated.Rd
+++ b/man/deprecated.Rd
@@ -8,16 +8,12 @@
 is_vector_s3(x)
 }
 \description{
-\code{is_vector_s3()} returns \code{TRUE} if an object represents an S3 vector.
-The default implementation forwards to \code{\link[vctrs:vec_assert]{vctrs::vec_is()}}.
+\code{is_vector_s3()} forwards to \code{\link[vctrs:vec_assert]{vctrs::vec_is()}}.
 }
 \section{Lifecycle}{
 
-\code{is_vector_s3()} is soft-deprecated, because \code{\link[vctrs:vec_assert]{vctrs::vec_is()}}
-provides the same functionality based on a robust framework.
-The generic will remain available for a while but is no longer used.
-Users and implementers are encouraged to ensure that \code{vctrs::vec_is()}
-is \code{TRUE} for their class.
+\code{is_vector_s3()} is soft-deprecated and no longer generic,
+use \code{\link[vctrs:vec_assert]{vctrs::vec_is()}} instead.
 }
 
 \keyword{internal}