Used, chiefly in plural with the definite article, to denote people sought by law enforcement.
Definitionen
Persons sought by law-enforcement authorities. The police issued new photos of the wanted.
Used attributively, e.g. "a wanted criminal", meaning ‘sought after’ or ‘desired’.
Definitionen
Being sought after or desired, especially by authorities or the public. The wanted fugitive was finally arrested at the border.