By the mere definition - "an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation", I guess it is..:) My love for quilting is a hobby I am very passionate about....along with my dancing and my horseback riding....All three make me very very happy....Now with that in mind, I do understand your annoyance with the word hobby being applied to quilting....I'm the same way when someone refers to my quilting as "Oh, you do crafts"....HUH??? Guess it's all in the eyes of the beholder....:)