diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/base.rb
@@ -2492,6 +2492,11 @@ def new_record?
         @new_record || false
       end
 
+      # Returns true if this object has been destroyed, otherwise returns false.
+      def destroyed?
+        @destroyed || false
+      end
+
       # :call-seq:
       #   save(perform_validation = true)
       #
@@ -2542,6 +2547,7 @@ def save!
       # options, use <tt>#destroy</tt>.
       def delete
         self.class.delete(id) unless new_record?
+        @destroyed = true
         freeze
       end
 
@@ -2556,6 +2562,7 @@ def destroy
           )
         end
 
+        @destroyed = true
         freeze
       end
 

diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
@@ -1271,6 +1271,23 @@ def test_new_record_returns_boolean
     assert_equal Topic.find(1).new_record?, false
   end
 
+  def test_destroyed_returns_boolean
+    developer = Developer.new
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, false
+    developer.destroy
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, true
+
+    developer = Developer.first
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, false
+    developer.destroy
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, true
+
+    developer = Developer.last
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, false
+    developer.delete
+    assert_equal developer.destroyed?, true
+  end
+
   def test_clone
     topic = Topic.find(1)
     cloned_topic = nil