Q: What does it mean if the editor has withdrawn my manuscript without my request?

It is unusual for a journal to withdraw a submitted manuscript. It is more common for authors to withdraw, or request to withdraw, a manuscript submitted to a journal.

You have not mentioned what was the status of your paper at the time it was withdrawn. Certain journals might need to "withdraw" an article if a major violation of the journal’s standards or policy was detected while the article was in press. But if your article has not yet been accepted, the editor would not "withdraw" the manuscript; he/she would just reject it.

I think you should write to the editor immediately inquiring about this. Make sure to make it very clear in your email that you have not sent a withdrawal request.

Related reading:

• What does it mean if the editor has withdrawn my manuscript?
• How to write to the journal editor inquiring about the status of my paper