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Language Foundation

pending authorization

Pending authorization is the status of a card payment for which approval has been requested from the card issuer but has not yet been approved or declined.

In plain English

This means the card payment is still waiting for the card issuer's response. An approval request has already been sent, but no yes-or-no decision has been returned yet.

In context

Here, "pending authorization" labels a payment whose card-issuer approval has been requested and is still awaiting an approval or decline decision.

Situation
Handling verification holds, payment disputes, chargebacks, reversals, and failed refunds
What it communicates
labels a payment that is still at the authorization stage

Meaning limits

By itself, this status does not say whether the payment will later be approved or declined.

Examples

“After the shop sent the card payment for approval, it remained pending authorization, unlike the earlier one that had already been approved.”

Core meaning

“Because the card payment was still pending authorization, the clinic kept the booking open.”

In context

  • approved Contrast

    This status shows that approval has already been given, not that a decision is still awaited.

  • declined Contrast

    This status shows that the payment has already been refused, not that a decision is still awaited.