Peter Pan

noun

Pe·​ter Pan ˈpē-tər-ˈpan 

1

: a boy in Sir James Barrie's play Peter Pan who lives without growing older in a never-never land

2

: an adult who does not want to grow up : one who hangs on to adolescent interests and attitudes

Examples of Peter Pan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Drunken heckling of a nationalistic speech in Peter Pan also acts as a reminder that the novel’s world exists in the shadow of history. —Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Steven Spielberg's tale of a grown-up Peter Pan was one of Paltrow's first projects. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026

The new area, which is already under construction, is expected to feature villains from beloved movies like Snow White, Peter Pan, and Aladdin, among others. —Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026

The collar of the coat featured a variation on the Peter Pan silhouette, this time with sinuous lines and dramatic angles in shades of yellow and cream beneath. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Peter Pan

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan