In plain English
It is an ask, not an existing connection. One account sends it to another to propose a two-way friend relationship, and that relationship is created only if the other user agrees.
In context
Here, "friend request" names the request to another user asking to create a mutual friend connection between the two accounts.
- Situation
- Using messages, follows, connections, groups, communities, and interaction controls
- What it communicates
- Names a request to create a two-way social connection.
Meaning limits
The term by itself does not show that the other user has agreed or that a mutual friend connection already exists.
Examples
“Ella sent Tom a friend request, but they were not friends online until he accepted it.”
“When the friend request arrived, Dario checked whether he knew the sender.”