diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/numparse_impl.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/numparse_impl.cpp
index 5806e1edc25..ee7a2cddb1c 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/numparse_impl.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/numparse_impl.cpp
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ NumberParserImpl::createParserFromProperties(const number::impl::DecimalFormatPr
     if (!isStrict) {
         parser->addMatcher(parser->fLocalMatchers.plusSign = {symbols, false});
         parser->addMatcher(parser->fLocalMatchers.minusSign = {symbols, false});
+        parser->addMatcher(parser->fLocalMatchers.approximatelySign = {symbols, false});
     }
     parser->addMatcher(parser->fLocalMatchers.nan = {symbols});
     parser->addMatcher(parser->fLocalMatchers.infinity = {symbols});
diff --git a/icu4j/main/core/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/impl/number/parse/NumberParserImpl.java b/icu4j/main/core/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/impl/number/parse/NumberParserImpl.java
index 3964d0b1a4f..e031b10c884 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/core/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/impl/number/parse/NumberParserImpl.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/core/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/impl/number/parse/NumberParserImpl.java
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ public class NumberParserImpl {
         if (parseMode == ParseMode.LENIENT) {
             parser.addMatcher(PlusSignMatcher.getInstance(symbols, false));
             parser.addMatcher(MinusSignMatcher.getInstance(symbols, false));
+            parser.addMatcher(ApproximatelySignMatcher.getInstance(symbols, false));
         }
         parser.addMatcher(NanMatcher.getInstance(symbols, parseFlags));
         parser.addMatcher(InfinityMatcher.getInstance(symbols));