diff --git a/sklearn/meson.build b/sklearn/meson.build
index 8736669f14cdb..4552082801337 100644
--- a/sklearn/meson.build
+++ b/sklearn/meson.build
@@ -55,7 +55,11 @@ print(incdir)
 endif
 
 inc_np = include_directories(incdir_numpy)
-np_dep = declare_dependency(include_directories: inc_np)
+# Don't use the deprecated NumPy C API. Define this to a fixed version instead of
+# NPY_API_VERSION in order not to break compilation for released SciPy versions
+# when NumPy introduces a new deprecation.
+numpy_no_deprecated_api = ['-DNPY_NO_DEPRECATED_API=NPY_1_9_API_VERSION']
+np_dep = declare_dependency(include_directories: inc_np, compile_args: numpy_no_deprecated_api)
 
 openmp_dep = dependency('OpenMP', language: 'c', required: false)