diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
index 8e66bc1ccfeb..4ca28b2b946b 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip-list.ts
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ export class MatChipList extends _MatChipListMixinBase implements MatFormFieldCo
   get multiple(): boolean { return this._multiple; }
   set multiple(value: boolean) {
     this._multiple = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+    this._syncChipsState();
   }
   private _multiple: boolean = false;
 
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ export class MatChipList extends _MatChipListMixinBase implements MatFormFieldCo
   get disabled(): boolean { return this.ngControl ? !!this.ngControl.disabled : this._disabled; }
   set disabled(value: boolean) {
     this._disabled = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
-    this._syncChipsDisabledState();
+    this._syncChipsState();
   }
   protected _disabled: boolean = false;
 
@@ -371,7 +372,7 @@ export class MatChipList extends _MatChipListMixinBase implements MatFormFieldCo
         // Since this happens after the content has been
         // checked, we need to defer it to the next tick.
         Promise.resolve().then(() => {
-          this._syncChipsDisabledState();
+          this._syncChipsState();
         });
       }
 
@@ -781,11 +782,12 @@ export class MatChipList extends _MatChipListMixinBase implements MatFormFieldCo
     return this.chips.some(chip => chip._hasFocus);
   }
 
-  /** Syncs the list's disabled state with the individual chips. */
-  private _syncChipsDisabledState() {
+  /** Syncs the list's state with the individual chips. */
+  private _syncChipsState() {
     if (this.chips) {
       this.chips.forEach(chip => {
         chip.disabled = this._disabled;
+        chip._chipListMultiple = this.multiple;
       });
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip.spec.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip.spec.ts
index c08144603d50..2875266932ac 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip.spec.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
 import {BACKSPACE, DELETE, SPACE} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
 import {createKeyboardEvent, dispatchFakeEvent} from '@angular/cdk/testing';
-import {Component, DebugElement} from '@angular/core';
+import {Component, DebugElement, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {async, ComponentFixture, TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {MAT_RIPPLE_GLOBAL_OPTIONS, RippleGlobalOptions} from '@angular/material/core';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs';
-import {MatChip, MatChipEvent, MatChipSelectionChange, MatChipsModule} from './index';
+import {MatChip, MatChipEvent, MatChipSelectionChange, MatChipsModule, MatChipList} from './index';
 
 
 describe('Chips', () => {
@@ -257,7 +257,19 @@ describe('Chips', () => {
           expect(testComponent.chipSelectionChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(CHIP_DESELECTED_EVENT);
         });
 
-        it('should have correct aria-selected', () => {
+        it('should have correct aria-selected in single selection mode', () => {
+          expect(chipNativeElement.hasAttribute('aria-selected')).toBe(false);
+
+          testComponent.selected = true;
+          fixture.detectChanges();
+
+          expect(chipNativeElement.getAttribute('aria-selected')).toBe('true');
+        });
+
+        it('should have the correct aria-selected in multi-selection mode', () => {
+          testComponent.chipList.multiple = true;
+          fixture.detectChanges();
+
           expect(chipNativeElement.getAttribute('aria-selected')).toBe('false');
 
           testComponent.selected = true;
@@ -265,6 +277,7 @@ describe('Chips', () => {
 
           expect(chipNativeElement.getAttribute('aria-selected')).toBe('true');
         });
+
       });
 
       describe('when selectable is false', () => {
@@ -390,6 +403,7 @@ describe('Chips', () => {
     </mat-chip-list>`
 })
 class SingleChip {
+  @ViewChild(MatChipList) chipList: MatChipList;
   disabled: boolean = false;
   name: string = 'Test';
   color: string = 'primary';
diff --git a/src/lib/chips/chip.ts b/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
index 715e246aa750..10fe4bb79787 100644
--- a/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
+++ b/src/lib/chips/chip.ts
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ export class MatChip extends _MatChipMixinBase implements FocusableOption, OnDes
   /** Whether the chip list is selectable */
   chipListSelectable: boolean = true;
 
+  /** Whether the chip list is in multi-selection mode. */
+  _chipListMultiple: boolean = false;
+
   /** The chip avatar */
   @ContentChild(MatChipAvatar) avatar: MatChipAvatar;
 
@@ -218,7 +221,10 @@ export class MatChip extends _MatChipMixinBase implements FocusableOption, OnDes
 
   /** The ARIA selected applied to the chip. */
   get ariaSelected(): string | null {
-    return this.selectable ? this.selected.toString() : null;
+    // Remove the `aria-selected` when the chip is deselected in single-selection mode, because
+    // it adds noise to NVDA users where "not selected" will be read out for each chip.
+    return this.selectable && (this._chipListMultiple || this.selected) ?
+        this.selected.toString() : null;
   }
 
   constructor(public _elementRef: ElementRef,
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/lib/chips.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/lib/chips.d.ts
index cc7433a965d9..e0670faeb05e 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/lib/chips.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/lib/chips.d.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export declare const _MatChipMixinBase: CanColorCtor & CanDisableRippleCtor & Ca
 export declare const MAT_CHIPS_DEFAULT_OPTIONS: InjectionToken<MatChipsDefaultOptions>;
 
 export declare class MatChip extends _MatChipMixinBase implements FocusableOption, OnDestroy, CanColor, CanDisable, CanDisableRipple, RippleTarget {
+    _chipListMultiple: boolean;
     _elementRef: ElementRef;
     _hasFocus: boolean;
     readonly _onBlur: Subject<MatChipEvent>;