Monkey-patching in Python refers to the practice of modifying or extending an existing module, class, or function at runtime, without actually changing its source code. This can be useful for making temporary changes or adding new functionality to existing code without the need to create a new subclass or modify the original code.

In Python, everything is an object, and classes and functions are no exception. This means that you can modify or extend them at runtime by adding new attributes, methods, or even replacing existing ones.

For example, let's say you have an existing function add_numbers(a, b) that simply adds two numbers together and returns the result. You could monkey-patch this function to add a new method that multiplies two numbers together:

```python
def add_numbers(a, b):
    return a + b

def multiply_numbers(self, a, b):
    return a * b

add_numbers.multiply = multiply_numbers
```

Now you can call add_numbers.multiply(2, 3, 4) and get a result of 12, in addition to calling the original add_numbers function as usual.

While monkey-patching can be a powerful technique, it can also be a source of bugs and unexpected behavior, especially in larger codebases or when working with third-party libraries. Therefore, it should be used judiciously and with caution.
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