The creation of sound effects, and their addition to film and TV images
"The foley artist created realistic sounds like footsteps and breaking glass in a studio to enhance the movie scenes."
In plain English: Foley is sound that actors and technicians create by hand to match what they see on screen, rather than recording it naturally during filming.
"The sound technician adjusted the foley to make the footsteps on gravel sound more realistic in the movie scene."
Usage: The term refers specifically to the art or technique itself rather than the physical objects used to create sounds. It should not be confused with "foley artist," which describes the practitioner of this craft.
A surname.
"The famous foley artist created sound effects for many classic films, but his real name was actually John Foley."
The word foley comes from the Irish surname Ó Foghlú, which originally meant "plunderer." In English, it refers to sound effects and is named after the pioneering audio technician Jack Foley.