Q: What is the meaning of "Editor declined invitation"?

After initial submission, an editor is assigned to look at your manuscript to determine whether or not the article fits well within the aims and scope of the journal and if it is interesting enough for the readers of the journal. This is when the status, after submission, changes to “With Editor”.

In some journals, the authors can select an Associate Editor whom they think might be knowledgeable to assess their work; if the Associate Editor cannot handle the manuscript, then the status changes to “Editor declined invitation”. Sometimes, editors can decline to initially assess a particular manuscript due to issues related to conflict of interest. Another possible scenario is that there might be a panel of editors who are experts in a niche area who assess the soundness and quality of manuscripts; they interact in real time with authors in a collaborative review process with the aim to improve manuscripts. So, such editors might decline to review manuscripts in case they have a paucity of time due to their schedule.

In any case, it will be made sure that another editor is assigned to evaluate your manuscript soon. So, the status “Editor declined invitation” does not mean that your paper is rejected. You can always write to the journal and ask about the status of your manuscript in order to save time.

Suggested reading:

How long will my paper show the status "editor invited"? 

How long should I wait for the status to change from "Editor invited" to "With editor"? 

What should I do if my paper is showing "With editor" for two months?  

How long does the status remain "With Editor" after initial submission?