diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecification.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecification.java
index 4c7deb638d..79a3865afe 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecification.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecification.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -35,18 +35,30 @@
  * <p>
  * Specifications can be composed into higher order functions from other specifications using
  * {@link #and(DeleteSpecification)}, {@link #or(DeleteSpecification)} or factory methods such as
- * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}. Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall
- * predicate by returning a {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null} are
- * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
+ * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}.
+ * <p>
+ * Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall predicate by returning a
+ * {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null}, such as {@link #unrestricted()}, are
+ * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate, and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  * @since 4.0
  */
 @FunctionalInterface
 public interface DeleteSpecification<T> extends Serializable {
 
 	/**
-	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification deleting all objects.
+	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification which does not participate in matching. The specification
+	 * returned is {@code null}-like, and is elided in all operations.
+	 * 
+	 * <pre>
+	 * {@code
+	 * unrestricted().and(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * unrestricted().or(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * not(unrestricted()) // equivalent to `unrestricted()`
+	 * }
+	 * </pre>
 	 *
 	 * @param <T> the type of the {@link Root} the resulting {@literal DeleteSpecification} operates on.
 	 * @return guaranteed to be not {@literal null}.
@@ -159,7 +171,7 @@ static <T> DeleteSpecification<T> not(DeleteSpecification<T> spec) {
 		return (root, delete, builder) -> {
 
 			Predicate predicate = spec.toPredicate(root, delete, builder);
-			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : builder.disjunction();
+			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : null;
 		};
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecification.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecification.java
index daa39b9ba7..3c7e048b81 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecification.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecification.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -34,18 +34,30 @@
  * <p>
  * Specifications can be composed into higher order functions from other specifications using
  * {@link #and(PredicateSpecification)}, {@link #or(PredicateSpecification)} or factory methods such as
- * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}. Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall
- * predicate by returning a {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null} are
- * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
+ * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}.
+ * <p>
+ * Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall predicate by returning a
+ * {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null}, such as {@link #unrestricted()}, are
+ * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate, and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  * @since 4.0
  */
 @FunctionalInterface
 public interface PredicateSpecification<T> extends Serializable {
 
 	/**
-	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification matching all objects.
+	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification which does not participate in matching. The specification
+	 * returned is {@code null}-like, and is elided in all operations.
+	 * 
+	 * <pre>
+	 * {@code
+	 * unrestricted().and(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * unrestricted().or(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * not(unrestricted()) // equivalent to `unrestricted()`
+	 * }
+	 * </pre>
 	 *
 	 * @param <T> the type of the {@link Root} the resulting {@literal PredicateSpecification} operates on.
 	 * @return guaranteed to be not {@literal null}.
@@ -113,7 +125,7 @@ static <T> PredicateSpecification<T> not(PredicateSpecification<T> spec) {
 		return (root, builder) -> {
 
 			Predicate predicate = spec.toPredicate(root, builder);
-			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : builder.disjunction();
+			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : null;
 		};
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/Specification.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/Specification.java
index 8427c5e8aa..b0b2c943b2 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/Specification.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/Specification.java
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@
  * <p>
  * Specifications can be composed into higher order functions from other specifications using
  * {@link #and(Specification)}, {@link #or(Specification)} or factory methods such as {@link #allOf(Iterable)}.
+ * <p>
  * Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall predicate by returning a
- * {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null} are considered to not contribute to
- * the overall predicate and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
+ * {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null}, such as {@link #unrestricted()}, are
+ * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate, and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
  *
  * @author Oliver Gierke
  * @author Thomas Darimont
@@ -49,12 +50,22 @@
  * @author Daniel Shuy
  * @author Sergey Rukin
  * @author Heeeun Cho
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  */
 @FunctionalInterface
 public interface Specification<T> extends Serializable {
 
 	/**
-	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification matching all objects.
+	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification which does not participate in matching. The specification
+	 * returned is {@code null}-like, and is elided in all operations.
+	 * 
+	 * <pre>
+	 * {@code
+	 * unrestricted().and(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * unrestricted().or(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * not(unrestricted()) // equivalent to `unrestricted()`
+	 * }
+	 * </pre>
 	 *
 	 * @param <T> the type of the {@link Root} the resulting {@literal Specification} operates on.
 	 * @return guaranteed to be not {@literal null}.
@@ -175,7 +186,7 @@ static <T> Specification<T> not(Specification<T> spec) {
 		return (root, query, builder) -> {
 
 			Predicate predicate = spec.toPredicate(root, query, builder);
-			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : builder.disjunction();
+			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : null;
 		};
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecification.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecification.java
index 1a27d428a4..02bff0c3d6 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecification.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecification.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -35,18 +35,30 @@
  * <p>
  * Specifications can be composed into higher order functions from other specifications using
  * {@link #and(UpdateSpecification)}, {@link #or(UpdateSpecification)} or factory methods such as
- * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}. Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall
- * predicate by returning a {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null} are
- * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
+ * {@link #allOf(Iterable)}.
+ * <p>
+ * Composition considers whether one or more specifications contribute to the overall predicate by returning a
+ * {@link Predicate} or {@literal null}. Specifications returning {@literal null}, such as {@link #unrestricted()}, are
+ * considered to not contribute to the overall predicate, and their result is not considered in the final predicate.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  * @since 4.0
  */
 @FunctionalInterface
 public interface UpdateSpecification<T> extends Serializable {
 
 	/**
-	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification updating all objects.
+	 * Simple static factory method to create a specification which does not participate in matching. The specification
+	 * returned is {@code null}-like, and is elided in all operations.
+	 * 
+	 * <pre>
+	 * {@code
+	 * unrestricted().and(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * unrestricted().or(other) // consider only `other`
+	 * not(unrestricted()) // equivalent to `unrestricted()`
+	 * }
+	 * </pre>
 	 *
 	 * @param <T> the type of the {@link Root} the resulting {@literal UpdateSpecification} operates on.
 	 * @return guaranteed to be not {@literal null}.
@@ -180,7 +192,7 @@ static <T> UpdateSpecification<T> not(UpdateSpecification<T> spec) {
 		return (root, update, builder) -> {
 
 			Predicate predicate = spec.toPredicate(root, update, builder);
-			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : builder.disjunction();
+			return predicate != null ? builder.not(predicate) : null;
 		};
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecificationUnitTests.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecificationUnitTests.java
index 99e6bb80ac..13e051c46f 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecificationUnitTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/DeleteSpecificationUnitTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
  * Unit tests for {@link DeleteSpecification}.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  */
 @SuppressWarnings({ "unchecked", "deprecation" })
 @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class)
@@ -158,15 +159,13 @@ void orCombinesSpecificationsInOrder() {
 		verify(builder).or(firstPredicate, secondPredicate);
 	}
 
-	@Test // GH-3849
+	@Test // GH-3849, GH-4023
 	void notWithNullPredicate() {
 
-		when(builder.disjunction()).thenReturn(mock(Predicate.class));
-
 		DeleteSpecification<Object> notSpec = DeleteSpecification.not((r, q, cb) -> null);
 
-		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, delete, builder)).isNotNull();
-		verify(builder).disjunction();
+		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, delete, builder)).isNull();
+		verifyNoInteractions(builder);
 	}
 
 	static class SerializableSpecification implements Serializable, DeleteSpecification<Object> {
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecificationUnitTests.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecificationUnitTests.java
index 0bcefc79ae..0bce2b5a2c 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecificationUnitTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/PredicateSpecificationUnitTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
  * Unit tests for {@link PredicateSpecification}.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  */
 @SuppressWarnings({ "unchecked", "deprecation" })
 @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class)
@@ -156,15 +157,13 @@ void orCombinesSpecificationsInOrder() {
 		verify(builder).or(firstPredicate, secondPredicate);
 	}
 
-	@Test // GH-3849
+	@Test // GH-3849, GH-4023
 	void notWithNullPredicate() {
 
-		when(builder.disjunction()).thenReturn(mock(Predicate.class));
-
 		PredicateSpecification<Object> notSpec = PredicateSpecification.not((r, cb) -> null);
 
-		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, builder)).isNotNull();
-		verify(builder).disjunction();
+		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, builder)).isNull();
+		verifyNoInteractions(builder);
 	}
 
 	static class SerializableSpecification implements Serializable, PredicateSpecification<Object> {
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/SpecificationUnitTests.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/SpecificationUnitTests.java
index cee8386513..4082596884 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/SpecificationUnitTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/SpecificationUnitTests.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
  * @author Mark Paluch
  * @author Daniel Shuy
  * @author Heeeun Cho
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  */
 @SuppressWarnings({ "unchecked", "deprecation" })
 @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class)
@@ -127,15 +128,13 @@ void orCombinesSpecificationsInOrder() {
 		verify(builder).or(firstPredicate, secondPredicate);
 	}
 
-	@Test // GH-3849
+	@Test // GH-3849, GH-4023
 	void notWithNullPredicate() {
 
-		when(builder.disjunction()).thenReturn(mock(Predicate.class));
+		Specification<Object> notSpec = Specification.not(Specification.unrestricted());
 
-		Specification<Object> notSpec = Specification.not((r, q, cb) -> null);
-
-		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, query, builder)).isNotNull();
-		verify(builder).disjunction();
+		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, query, builder)).isNull();
+		verifyNoInteractions(builder);
 	}
 
 	@Test // GH-3992
diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecificationUnitTests.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecificationUnitTests.java
index f65ab6ecaa..a5415a3bd1 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecificationUnitTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/domain/UpdateSpecificationUnitTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2024 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
  * Unit tests for {@link UpdateSpecification}.
  *
  * @author Mark Paluch
+ * @author Peter Aisher
  */
 @SuppressWarnings({ "unchecked", "deprecation" })
 @ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class)
@@ -158,15 +159,13 @@ void orCombinesSpecificationsInOrder() {
 		verify(builder).or(firstPredicate, secondPredicate);
 	}
 
-	@Test // GH-3849
+	@Test // GH-3849, GH-4023
 	void notWithNullPredicate() {
 
-		when(builder.disjunction()).thenReturn(mock(Predicate.class));
-
 		UpdateSpecification<Object> notSpec = UpdateSpecification.not((r, q, cb) -> null);
 
-		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, update, builder)).isNotNull();
-		verify(builder).disjunction();
+		assertThat(notSpec.toPredicate(root, update, builder)).isNull();
+		verifyNoInteractions(builder);
 	}
 
 	static class SerializableSpecification implements Serializable, UpdateSpecification<Object> {