The present work is aimed to establish the utility of CuO nanorods in diverse fields; from photocatalysis to antimicrobial applications. The CuO nanorods obtained via facile precipitation process (without any surfactant/ligand) depicted excellent photocatalytic activity when examined under natural diffused room light for the complete degradation of the organic pollutant, Rhodamine B. Neither any assistance of any oxidants nor an additional light sources (e.g., with high power, lower wavelength etc.) was required during the whole process. The antibacterial property was also examined for the CuO nanorods. Effects on the microbial growth were noteworthy; the maximum inhibition zone of 37 mm was noted against the Gram-negative E. coli. The most significant effect of the nanorods was depicted in the reduction of 99% of E. call, 98% of S. flexneri and 93% of S. aureus cells. The suitable activity response of the nanorods establishes the efficacy of the room temperature synthesis process.