diff --git a/src/_pytest/mark/structures.py b/src/_pytest/mark/structures.py
index d6e426567..37ae1fd9c 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/mark/structures.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/mark/structures.py
@@ -461,7 +461,9 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
             *conditions: Union[str, bool],
             reason: str = ...,
             run: bool = ...,
-            raises: Union[Type[BaseException], Tuple[Type[BaseException], ...]] = ...,
+            raises: Optional[
+                Union[Type[BaseException], Tuple[Type[BaseException], ...]]
+            ] = ...,
             strict: bool = ...,
         ) -> MarkDecorator:
             ...
diff --git a/src/_pytest/skipping.py b/src/_pytest/skipping.py
index 0c5c38f5f..868bf011a 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -5,15 +5,19 @@ import platform
 import sys
 import traceback
 from collections.abc import Mapping
+from contextvars import ContextVar
 from typing import Generator
+from typing import MutableMapping
 from typing import Optional
 from typing import Tuple
 from typing import Type
+from typing import Union
 
 from _pytest.config import Config
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 from _pytest.config.argparsing import Parser
 from _pytest.mark.structures import Mark
+from _pytest.mark.structures import MARK_GEN
 from _pytest.nodes import Item
 from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 from _pytest.outcomes import skip
@@ -299,3 +303,32 @@ def pytest_report_teststatus(report: BaseReport) -> Optional[Tuple[str, str, str
         elif report.passed:
             return "xpassed", "X", "XPASS"
     return None
+
+
+current_item_var: ContextVar[Item] = ContextVar("current_item_var")
+
+
+def pytest_runtest_protocol(item: Item, nextitem: Optional[Item]) -> None:
+    current_item_var.set(item)
+
+
+class _NotPassed:
+    pass
+
+
+_not_passed = _NotPassed()
+
+
+def expect_failure(
+    reason: str = "",
+    raises: Optional[
+        Union[Type[BaseException], Tuple[Type[BaseException], ...]]
+    ] = None,
+    strict: Union[bool, _NotPassed] = _not_passed,
+) -> None:
+    kwargs: MutableMapping[str, bool] = {}
+    if not isinstance(strict, _NotPassed):
+        kwargs["strict"] = strict
+    current_item_var.get().add_marker(
+        MARK_GEN.xfail(reason=reason, raises=raises, **kwargs)
+    )
diff --git a/src/pytest/__init__.py b/src/pytest/__init__.py
index 831ede1fa..d030569d3 100644
--- a/src/pytest/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pytest/__init__.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ from _pytest.recwarn import warns
 from _pytest.reports import CollectReport
 from _pytest.reports import TestReport
 from _pytest.runner import CallInfo
+from _pytest.skipping import expect_failure
 from _pytest.stash import Stash
 from _pytest.stash import StashKey
 from _pytest.terminal import TestShortLogReport
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "exit",
     "ExceptionInfo",
     "ExitCode",
+    "expect_failure",
     "fail",
     "File",
     "fixture",
diff --git a/testing/test_skipping.py b/testing/test_skipping.py
index b7e448df3..96469202e 100644
--- a/testing/test_skipping.py
+++ b/testing/test_skipping.py
@@ -738,6 +738,54 @@ class TestXFail:
         res.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*1 failed*"])
         res.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*1 xfailed*"])
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("strict", [True, False])
+    def test_expect_failure_xfailed(self, pytester: Pytester, strict: bool) -> None:
+        reprec = pytester.inline_runsource(
+            """
+            import pytest
+            def test_func():
+                pytest.expect_failure(strict=%s)
+                assert 0
+        """
+            % strict
+        )
+        reports = reprec.getreports("pytest_runtest_logreport")
+        assert len(reports) == 3
+        callreport = reports[1]
+        assert callreport.skipped
+        assert callreport.wasxfail == ""
+
+    def test_expect_failure_xpassed(self, pytester: Pytester) -> None:
+        reprec = pytester.inline_runsource(
+            """
+            import pytest
+            def test_func():
+                pytest.expect_failure(reason="expect failure")
+                assert 1
+        """
+        )
+        reports = reprec.getreports("pytest_runtest_logreport")
+        assert len(reports) == 3
+        callreport = reports[1]
+        assert callreport.passed
+        assert callreport.wasxfail == "expect failure"
+
+    def test_expect_failure_xpassed_strict(self, pytester: Pytester) -> None:
+        reprec = pytester.inline_runsource(
+            """
+            import pytest
+            def test_func():
+                pytest.expect_failure(strict=True, reason="nope")
+                assert 1
+        """
+        )
+        reports = reprec.getreports("pytest_runtest_logreport")
+        assert len(reports) == 3
+        callreport = reports[1]
+        assert callreport.failed
+        assert str(callreport.longrepr) == "[XPASS(strict)] nope"
+        assert not hasattr(callreport, "wasxfail")
+
 
 class TestXFailwithSetupTeardown:
     def test_failing_setup_issue9(self, pytester: Pytester) -> None: