diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/no-unused-vars.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/no-unused-vars.ts
index 8753452dd09..5a93a962bed 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/no-unused-vars.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/no-unused-vars.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export default util.createRule<Options, MessageIds>({
     },
   },
   defaultOptions: [{}],
-  create(context) {
+  create(context, [options]) {
     const rules = baseRule.create(context);
     const filename = context.getFilename();
     const MODULE_DECL_CACHE = new Map<TSESTree.TSModuleDeclaration, boolean>();
@@ -196,7 +196,14 @@ export default util.createRule<Options, MessageIds>({
           }
           return false;
         });
+        const varIgnorePattern =
+          typeof options === 'object' && options.varsIgnorePattern != null
+            ? new RegExp(options.varsIgnorePattern, 'u')
+            : null;
         if (isOnlySelfReferenced) {
+          if (varIgnorePattern?.test(variable.name)) {
+            return;
+          }
           context.report({
             node: variable.identifiers[0],
             messageId: 'unusedVar',