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Pending — in plain language

in the process of being decided or completed; not yet finished or finalized

From a fixed, curated glossary of 7,257 legal terms. Not legal advice. How it's made: plainlanguage.us/trust

Plain language

in the process of being decided or completed; not yet finished or finalized

  • ongoing
  • in progress
  • not yet finished
  • waiting for a decision

What to watch for

  • Non-lawyers often assume 'pending' means a decision is imminent. In legal contexts, a case can be 'pending' for years without any immediate resolution.
  • In patent law, 'pending' refers to an application that has been filed but not yet granted or rejected. It does not mean the patent is active or enforceable yet.
  • When used in 'pending distribution,' it does not mean the distribution is happening now, but rather that it is queued and waiting for a trigger or final approval.

Distinguishing from "Active". While "pending" implies activity, it specifically highlights the waiting nature of the status. A lawsuit is "pending" from the moment it is filed until the judge issues a final order. Translators should avoid using "active" if the context implies a state of waiting or uncertainty.

Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.

  • "Pending means it will be decided today." (No—it simply means the process has not reached a final conclusion.)
  • "If a patent is pending, I have the same rights as if it were issued." (No—a pending application is just a request; it does not provide the same legal protections as an issued patent.)
  • "Pending distribution means the money is already on its way." (No—it usually means the money is held in an account waiting for the final paperwork to be signed.)

Something that has been started but is not yet finished. In a legal sense, it describes a process—like a lawsuit, a patent application, or a request—that is currently active and waiting for a final result or decision.

Examples

Legal: There are no actions, proceedings, or claims pending against the company.

Plain: There are no lawsuits or legal claims currently in progress against the company.

Legal: Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Revolving Credit Borrowing.

Plain: The borrower can cancel any request for a loan that has been submitted but not yet processed.

Legal: Patent Rights means any and all issued and unexpired patents and pending applications.

Plain: Patent rights include all patents that have been granted and are still active, as well as any patent applications that are currently being reviewed.

Where you'll see it

  • lawsuits and court cases
  • patent applications
  • contract negotiations
  • loan requests
  • litigation
  • proceeding
  • application
  • undetermined

Word details

Pronunciation
PEN-ding
Part of speech
adjective
Origin
Latin — from 'pendere' — to hang or weigh
Domains
contract law, litigation, patent law, administrative law
Frequency
very common
Formality
moderate

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