diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/shared_static_only_args.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/shared_static_only_args.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4af4ea5042c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/shared_static_only_args.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+## `<lang>_(shared|static)_args` for both_library, library, and build_target
+
+We now allow passing arguments like `c_static_args` and `c_shared_args`. This
+allows a `both_library` to have arguments specific to either the shared or
+static library, as well as common arguments to both.
+
+There is a drawback to this, since Meson now cannot re-use object files between
+the static and shared targets. This could lead to much higher compilation time
+when using a `both_library` if there are many sources.
diff --git a/docs/yaml/functions/library.yaml b/docs/yaml/functions/library.yaml
index f10ef8e88c84..803e0da4b447 100644
--- a/docs/yaml/functions/library.yaml
+++ b/docs/yaml/functions/library.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ description: |
   The keyword arguments for this are the same as for
   [[build_target]]
 
+warnings:
+  - using <lang>_shared_args and/or <lang>_static_args may lead to much higher
+    compilation times with both_library, as object files cannot be shared between
+    the static and shared targets. It is guaranteed to not duplicate the build if
+    these arguments are empty arrays
+
 posargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 varargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 kwargs_inherit:
diff --git a/docs/yaml/functions/shared_library.yaml b/docs/yaml/functions/shared_library.yaml
index 956fb2cb2ce1..919ad55e9d94 100644
--- a/docs/yaml/functions/shared_library.yaml
+++ b/docs/yaml/functions/shared_library.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ posargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 varargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 kwargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 
+warnings:
+  - using <lang>_shared_args may lead to much higher compilation times with
+    both_library, as object files cannot be shared between the static and shared
+    targets. It is guaranteed to not duplicate the build if this is an empty array
+
 kwargs:
   version:
     type: str
@@ -44,3 +49,9 @@ kwargs:
     description: |
       Specify a Microsoft module definition file for controlling symbol exports,
       etc., on platforms where that is possible (e.g. Windows).
+
+  <lang>_shared_args:
+    type: list[str | file]
+    since: 1.3.0
+    description:
+      Arguments that are only passed to a shared library
diff --git a/docs/yaml/functions/static_library.yaml b/docs/yaml/functions/static_library.yaml
index 1d42d600a4b6..de254c01afb2 100644
--- a/docs/yaml/functions/static_library.yaml
+++ b/docs/yaml/functions/static_library.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ posargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 varargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 kwargs_inherit: _build_target_base
 
+warnings:
+  - using <lang>_static_args may lead to much higher compilation times with
+    both_library, as object files cannot be shared between the static and shared
+    targets. It is guaranteed to not duplicate the build if this is an empty array
+
 kwargs:
   pic:
     type: bool
@@ -23,3 +28,9 @@ kwargs:
       If `true` the object files in the target will be prelinked,
       meaning that it will contain only one prelinked
       object file rather than the individual object files.
+
+  <lang>_static_args:
+    type: list[str | file]
+    since: 1.3.0
+    description:
+      Arguments that are only passed to a static library
diff --git a/mesonbuild/build.py b/mesonbuild/build.py
index 31a1ccfee63c..6e03e47c1a39 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/build.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/build.py
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@
     cs_kwargs)
 
 known_exe_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {'implib', 'export_dynamic', 'pie'}
-known_shlib_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {'version', 'soversion', 'vs_module_defs', 'darwin_versions'}
+known_shlib_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {f'{l}_shared_args' for l in all_languages} | {'version', 'soversion', 'vs_module_defs', 'darwin_versions'}
 known_shmod_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {'vs_module_defs'}
-known_stlib_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {'pic', 'prelink'}
+known_stlib_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {f'{l}_static_args' for l in all_languages} | {'pic', 'prelink'}
 known_jar_kwargs = known_exe_kwargs | {'main_class', 'java_resources'}
 
 def _process_install_tag(install_tag: T.Optional[T.List[T.Optional[str]]],
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreter.py
index 03a3dec42dcd..fb5886533e7d 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter/interpreter.py
@@ -3169,7 +3169,7 @@ def add_target(self, name: str, tobj: build.Target) -> None:
             self.coredata.target_guids[idname] = str(uuid.uuid4()).upper()
 
     @FeatureNew('both_libraries', '0.46.0')
-    def build_both_libraries(self, node, args, kwargs):
+    def build_both_libraries(self, node, args, kwargs: T.Dict[str, T.Any]):
         shared_lib = self.build_target(node, args, kwargs, build.SharedLibrary)
         static_lib = self.build_target(node, args, kwargs, build.StaticLibrary)
 
@@ -3181,6 +3181,9 @@ def build_both_libraries(self, node, args, kwargs):
             # Feel free to submit patches to get this fixed if it is an
             # issue for you.
             reuse_object_files = False
+        elif any(k.endswith(('static_args', 'shared_args')) and v for k, v in kwargs.items()):
+            # Ensure not just the keyword arguments exist, but that they are non-empty.
+            reuse_object_files = False
         else:
             reuse_object_files = static_lib.pic
 
@@ -3265,6 +3268,12 @@ def build_target_decorator_caller(self, node, args, kwargs):
             raise RuntimeError('Unreachable code')
         self.kwarg_strings_to_includedirs(kwargs)
         self.__extract_language_args(kwargs)
+        if targetclass is build.StaticLibrary:
+            for lang in compilers.all_languages - {'java'}:
+                kwargs['language_args'][lang].extend(kwargs[f'{lang}_static_args'])
+        elif targetclass is build.SharedLibrary:
+            for lang in compilers.all_languages - {'java'}:
+                kwargs['language_args'][lang].extend(kwargs[f'{lang}_shared_args'])
 
         # Filter out kwargs from other target types. For example 'soversion'
         # passed to library() when default_library == 'static'.
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter/type_checking.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter/type_checking.py
index 346baf9f7841..f1af8efb1272 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter/type_checking.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter/type_checking.py
@@ -531,7 +531,10 @@ def _validate_win_subsystem(value: T.Optional[str]) -> T.Optional[str]:
 
 # Arguments exclusive to StaticLibrary. These are separated to make integrating
 # them into build_target easier
-_EXCLUSIVE_STATIC_LIB_KWS: T.List[KwargInfo] = []
+_EXCLUSIVE_STATIC_LIB_KWS: T.List[KwargInfo] = [
+    *[l.evolve(name=f'{l.name.split("_", 1)[0]}_static_args', since='1.3.0')
+      for l in _LANGUAGE_KWS],
+]
 
 # The total list of arguments used by StaticLibrary
 STATIC_LIB_KWS = [
@@ -542,7 +545,10 @@ def _validate_win_subsystem(value: T.Optional[str]) -> T.Optional[str]:
 
 # Arguments exclusive to SharedLibrary. These are separated to make integrating
 # them into build_target easier
-_EXCLUSIVE_SHARED_LIB_KWS: T.List[KwargInfo] = []
+_EXCLUSIVE_SHARED_LIB_KWS: T.List[KwargInfo] = [
+    *[l.evolve(name=f'{l.name.split("_", 1)[0]}_shared_args', since='1.3.0')
+      for l in _LANGUAGE_KWS],
+]
 
 # The total list of arguments used by SharedLibrary
 SHARED_LIB_KWS = [
diff --git a/test cases/common/3 static/lib3.c b/test cases/common/3 static/lib3.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f834cf8b8422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/common/3 static/lib3.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+int func3(const int x) {
+    return x + 1;
+}
+
+#ifndef WORK
+# error "did not get static only C args"
+#endif
+
+#ifdef BREAK
+# error "got shared only C args, but shouldn't have"
+#endif
diff --git a/test cases/common/3 static/meson.build b/test cases/common/3 static/meson.build
index 04ff2f6f301e..c31843089cb9 100644
--- a/test cases/common/3 static/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/3 static/meson.build	
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-project('static library test', 'c')
+project('static library test', 'c', default_options : ['default_library=static'])
 
 lib = static_library('mylib', get_option('source'),
   link_args : '-THISMUSTNOBEUSED') # Static linker needs to ignore all link args.
@@ -12,3 +12,9 @@ endif
 assert(has_not_changed, 'Static library has changed.')
 
 assert(not is_disabler(lib), 'Static library is a disabler.')
+
+if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
+  library('lib2', 'lib3.c', c_static_args : ['-DWORK'], c_shared_args : ['-DBREAK'])
+endif
+static_library('lib3', 'lib3.c', c_static_args : ['-DWORK'])
+build_target('lib4', 'lib3.c', c_static_args : ['-DWORK'], target_type : 'static_library')
diff --git a/test cases/common/4 shared/libfile2.c b/test cases/common/4 shared/libfile2.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fee1d1efd872
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/common/4 shared/libfile2.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#if defined _WIN32 || defined __CYGWIN__
+  #define DLL_PUBLIC __declspec(dllexport)
+#else
+  #if defined __GNUC__
+    #define DLL_PUBLIC __attribute__ ((visibility("default")))
+  #else
+    #pragma message ("Compiler does not support symbol visibility.")
+    #define DLL_PUBLIC
+  #endif
+#endif
+
+#ifndef WORK
+# error "Did not get shared only arguments"
+#endif
+
+#ifdef BREAK
+# error "got static only C args, but shouldn't have"
+#endif
+
+int DLL_PUBLIC libfunc(void) {
+    return 3;
+}
diff --git a/test cases/common/4 shared/meson.build b/test cases/common/4 shared/meson.build
index 1c88bc5877d6..47e6b5a2d3aa 100644
--- a/test cases/common/4 shared/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/4 shared/meson.build	
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-project('shared library test', 'c')
+project('shared library test', 'c', default_options : ['default_library=shared'])
 lib = shared_library('mylib', 'libfile.c')
 build_target('mylib2', 'libfile.c', target_type: 'shared_library')
 
@@ -11,3 +11,9 @@ endif
 assert(has_not_changed, 'Shared library has changed.')
 
 assert(not is_disabler(lib), 'Shared library is a disabler.')
+
+if get_option('default_library') == 'shared'
+  library('mylib5', 'libfile2.c', c_shared_args : ['-DWORK'])
+endif
+shared_library('mylib3', 'libfile2.c', c_shared_args : ['-DWORK'])
+build_target('mylib4', 'libfile2.c', target_type: 'shared_library', c_shared_args : ['-DWORK'], c_static_args : ['-DBREAK'])
diff --git a/unittests/allplatformstests.py b/unittests/allplatformstests.py
index f7fb1b0c5f00..7d9ad34d28d8 100644
--- a/unittests/allplatformstests.py
+++ b/unittests/allplatformstests.py
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ def test_static_library_overwrite(self):
         self.init(testdir)
         # Get name of static library
         targets = self.introspect('--targets')
-        self.assertEqual(len(targets), 1)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(targets), 1)
         libname = targets[0]['filename'][0]
         # Build and get contents of static library
         self.build()