diff --git a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
index c53a48b4be..775a9fb296 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ export abstract class ClusterAdapter extends Adapter {
     opts: BroadcastOptions,
     clientCountCallback: (clientCount: number) => void,
     ack: (...args: any[]) => void,
-  ) {
+  ): { cleanup: () => void } {
     const onlyLocal = opts?.flags?.local;
     if (!onlyLocal) {
       const requestId = randomId();
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ export abstract class ClusterAdapter extends Adapter {
       }, opts.flags!.timeout);
     }
 
-    super.broadcastWithAck(packet, opts, clientCountCallback, ack);
+    return super.broadcastWithAck(packet, opts, clientCountCallback, ack);
   }
 
   override async addSockets(opts: BroadcastOptions, rooms: Room[]) {
diff --git a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
index cf178170e0..9bef59b336 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ export class Adapter extends EventEmitter {
     opts: BroadcastOptions,
     clientCountCallback: (clientCount: number) => void,
     ack: (...args: any[]) => void,
-  ) {
+  ): { cleanup: () => void } {
     const flags = opts.flags || {};
     const packetOpts = {
       preEncoded: true,
@@ -214,12 +214,15 @@ export class Adapter extends EventEmitter {
     const encodedPackets = this._encode(packet, packetOpts);
 
     let clientCount = 0;
+    const sentToSockets: any[] = [];
 
     this.apply(opts, (socket) => {
       // track the total number of acknowledgements that are expected
       clientCount++;
       // call the ack callback for each client response
       socket.acks.set(packet.id, ack);
+      // track sockets for cleanup on timeout
+      sentToSockets.push(socket);
 
       if (typeof socket.notifyOutgoingListeners === "function") {
         socket.notifyOutgoingListeners(packet);
@@ -229,6 +232,20 @@ export class Adapter extends EventEmitter {
     });
 
     clientCountCallback(clientCount);
+
+    const packetId = packet.id;
+    return {
+      cleanup: () => {
+        // remove pending acks from all sockets on timeout
+        for (const socket of sentToSockets) {
+          if (socket.acks) {
+            socket.acks.delete(packetId);
+          }
+        }
+        // clear array to release socket references
+        sentToSockets.length = 0;
+      },
+    };
   }
 
   private _encode(packet: unknown, packetOpts: Record<string, unknown>) {
diff --git a/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts b/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
index 6a229daef6..37058b037a 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
@@ -232,9 +232,14 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
     const ack = data.pop() as (...args: any[]) => void;
     let timedOut = false;
     let responses: any[] = [];
+    let cleanup: (() => void) | undefined;
 
     const timer = setTimeout(() => {
       timedOut = true;
+      // cleanup pending acks to prevent memory leak
+      if (cleanup) {
+        cleanup();
+      }
       ack.apply(this, [
         new Error("operation has timed out"),
         this.flags.expectSingleResponse ? null : responses,
@@ -259,7 +264,7 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
       }
     };
 
-    this.adapter.broadcastWithAck(
+    const result = this.adapter.broadcastWithAck(
       packet,
       {
         rooms: this.rooms,
@@ -279,6 +284,11 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
       },
     );
 
+    // store cleanup function for timeout handler
+    if (result && typeof result.cleanup === "function") {
+      cleanup = result.cleanup;
+    }
+
     this.adapter.serverCount().then((serverCount) => {
       expectedServerCount = serverCount;
       checkCompleteness();
diff --git a/packages/socket.io/test/socket-timeout.ts b/packages/socket.io/test/socket-timeout.ts
index 62f36807b8..92a26aeda6 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io/test/socket-timeout.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io/test/socket-timeout.ts
@@ -84,4 +84,75 @@ describe("timeout", () => {
       success(done, io, client);
     });
   });
+
+  it("should cleanup pending acks on broadcast timeout (memory leak fix)", (done) => {
+    const io = new Server(0);
+    const client = createClient(io, "/");
+
+    // Client does not acknowledge the event (simulates timeout scenario)
+    client.on("test-event", () => {
+      // intentionally not calling the callback
+    });
+
+    io.on("connection", async (socket) => {
+      socket.join("test-room");
+
+      // Get initial acks count (cast to any to access private property in test)
+      const initialAcksSize = (socket as any).acks.size;
+
+      try {
+        await io.timeout(50).to("test-room").emitWithAck("test-event", "data");
+        expect().fail("should have timed out");
+      } catch (err) {
+        expect(err).to.be.an(Error);
+
+        // After timeout, acks should be cleaned up (no memory leak)
+        // Wait a bit for cleanup to complete
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          expect((socket as any).acks.size).to.be(initialAcksSize);
+          success(done, io, client);
+        }, 10);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("should cleanup pending acks on broadcast timeout with multiple clients", (done) => {
+    const io = new Server(0);
+    const client1 = createClient(io, "/");
+    const client2 = createClient(io, "/");
+
+    let connectedSockets: any[] = [];
+
+    // Clients do not acknowledge
+    client1.on("test-event", () => {});
+    client2.on("test-event", () => {});
+
+    io.on("connection", (socket) => {
+      socket.join("test-room");
+      connectedSockets.push(socket);
+
+      if (connectedSockets.length === 2) {
+        runTest();
+      }
+    });
+
+    async function runTest() {
+      const initialAcksSizes = connectedSockets.map((s) => s.acks.size);
+
+      try {
+        await io.timeout(50).to("test-room").emitWithAck("test-event", "data");
+        expect().fail("should have timed out");
+      } catch (err) {
+        expect(err).to.be.an(Error);
+
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          // All sockets should have their acks cleaned up
+          connectedSockets.forEach((socket, i) => {
+            expect(socket.acks.size).to.be(initialAcksSizes[i]);
+          });
+          success(done, io, client1, client2);
+        }, 10);
+      }
+    }
+  });
 });