Female graduate inside was victorious (5)
I believe the answer is:
woman
'female' is the definition.
(I know that woman is a type of female)
'graduate inside was victorious' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'MA' (abbreviation for Master of Arts).
'inside' indicates putting letters inside.
'was victorious' becomes 'won' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ma' inserted inside 'won' is 'WOMAN'.
(Other definitions for woman that I've seen before include "With 1a [NEW] a freedom fighter" , "See 16" , "Adult female" , "person not going on stag-night" , "Mature female" .)